Morocco have undergone a shock managerial change just months before the 2026 World Cup. Legend Walid Regragui has stepped down, making way for Under-20 boss Mohamed Ouahbi to lead the nation in North America.
Kylian Mbappe is a World Cup-winning global superstar in his own right, but can the Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ be considered to have eclipsed the legend of fellow Frenchman Thierry Henry? Jeremie Aliadiere - a former Arsenal team-mate of another ‘Invincible’ in north London - has explained why all-time lists will always be influenced by generational favouritism.
MLS has been told why retaining home-grown stars such as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie will remain impossible in the foreseeable future, with “real football” being played in Europe. Giuseppe Rossi - who spent time in England, Italy, Spain and the United States during his playing career - has told GOAL why top American talent will continue to fly the domestic nest.
The United States has been warned that talk of the USMNT winning a home World Cup in 2026 “won’t be fair at all”, with a more realistic example of “huge success” being pointed out. Giuseppe Rossi, who qualified to represent the land of his birth but opted to play for Italy, has - while filling a role as vice-chairman and head of soccer at the New York Cosmos - given GOAL his assessment of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’.
Pierluigi Collina has delivered a blunt assessment of the current state of VAR, comparing the technology’s recent struggles to a crumbling relationship. As football prepares for a suite of radical changes to how the game is policed, the man who once struck fear into the world’s best players suggests that the initial love affair with technology has hit a rocky patch.
Thomas Tuchel has been urged to snub the likes of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden by picking “world-beater” Marcus Rashford on the left wing for England at the 2026 World Cup. Former Three Lions star Lee Sharpe has told GOAL the Manchester United academy graduate, who is currently on loan at Barcelona, possesses qualities that his rivals for an international starting berth do not have.
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to chase down 1,000 competitive career goals, but will eternal rival Lionel Messi have the same target in mind? Portuguese superstar CR7 appears destined to get there first, as he turns out for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, and a former team-mate of the Manchester United legend has told GOAL why Inter Miami talisman Messi may care more about Ronaldo’s exploits than he likes to let on.
This is Icons, a GOAL feature and podcast series revisiting the last 10 World Cups through the moments, characters, and controversies that defined them, bringing the spirit of each tournament vividly back to life. This week we look back on vuvuzelas, Jabulanis, a French mutiny and the other 'Hand of God'. The 2010 World Cup was chaos, noise, heartbreak, and pure spectacle; a tournament that shaped football’s modern era in ways few could have predicted.
The road to the 2026 World Cup has hit a significant speed bump for Cristiano Ronaldo, as the Portugal captain is now a major doubt for his nation’s final international camp before the tournament. After limping out of domestic action in Saudi Arabia, the Al-Nassr forward is facing a race against time to prove his fitness to Roberto Martinez.
Brazil and Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison has denied he is planning on sitting out the 2026 World Cup amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Iran has recently come under attack from the United States - one of three co-hosts for this summer's tournament - and Israel, leading to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Real Madrid star Rodrygo has suffered a devastating knee injury that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season. In a cruel twist of fate, the diagnosis also confirms that the forward will miss the 2026 World Cup, a tournament he was expected to light up for Brazil. Following the confirmation of the injury sustained during the La Liga clash against Getafe, Brazil legend Neymar led the tributes with a deeply personal message for his young compatriot.
The build-up to the 2026 World Cup has been hit by a major geopolitical storm as United States president Donald Trump admitted he is indifferent to whether Iran participates in the upcoming tournament. Despite being the first nation to secure qualification for the showpiece event, Iran were the notable absentees from a high-profile FIFA planning meeting held in Atlanta this week. The silence from the Iranian camp has sparked intense speculation regarding their involvement in the tournament, which is set to be hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada this summer.
Real Madrid and Brazil star Rodrygo Goes expressed his heartbreak after a devastating ACL and meniscus tear shattered his 2026 World Cup dreams. Describing it as one of the saddest days of his life and his worst nightmare realised, the resilient forward promised fans he would overcome this massive blow and return stronger.
Real Madrid suffered a catastrophic tactical setback after Brazilian forward Rodrygo Goes was diagnosed with a severe anterior cruciate ligament tear. The crushing news, confirmed by medical scans following their La Liga loss to Getafe, effectively ends his domestic season and tragically rules him out of the upcoming World Cup.
Rene Higuita has ignited the psychological warfare ahead of the 2026 World Cup, issuing a blunt warning to Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The legendary Colombian goalkeeper insists the Cafeteros are ready to neutralize the Al Nassr superstar when the two nations collide in a blockbuster Group K encounter in Florida this June.
Kylian Mbappe has seen his “longevity” questioned, with doubts cast over whether the Real Madrid and France superstar can emulate certain achievements of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Jeremie Aliadiere is a big fan of his fellow countryman, but has told GOAL why chasing down the target of 100 international goals may prove difficult for the most fearsome of forwards.
Mason Greenwood may yet bring his hopes of earning an England recall to a close by pledging allegiance to Jamaica at the 2026 World Cup, admits a man that once trod a similar path. Frank Sinclair joined the Reggae Boyz ranks for a major tournament adventure in 1998 and has told GOAL why a forward starring at Marseille could take a similar decision.
This is Legacy, GOAL’s feature and podcast series to mark the countdown 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 revisit one of international football’s most dramatic sagas: the rise, fall, and rebirth of Les Bleus. From Zinedine Zidane's headbutt in Berlin to Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick in Doha, France’s World Cup journey between 2006 and 2022 is a tale of collapse and resurrection; the story of a nation that turned shame into strength, and forged an identity where resilience became its greatest art.
In a move that has caught the footballing world off guard, former Paris Saint-Germain maestro Marco Verratti is reportedly on the verge of a sensational return to the Italy national team. The veteran midfielder, who was once the heartbeat of the Azzurri engine room, has been largely forgotten by the international mainstream since his high-profile move to Qatar. However, with the high-stakes pressure of the World Cup play-offs looming on the horizon, new head coach Gennaro Gattuso appears ready to roll the dice on one of the most technically gifted players of his generation.
Arsene Wenger's controversial plan to radically change the offside rule has taken a major step forward. The former Arsenal manager has been pushing for a system that benefits attackers, and his proposed 'daylight' law will now be officially trialled in the Canadian Premier League. This marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over VAR and microscopic offside margins.
Iran's place at the upcoming World Cup has been put in doubt amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East. The president of Iran's soccer federation said on Monday that the country's World Cup hopes seem slim at the moment, although organizers say there has been no formal indication that plans will change for this summer.
Thomas Tuchel has been given three reasons why Jude Bellingham, who is nursing an injury at Real Madrid, has to make England’s 2026 World Cup squad. The all-action midfielder may be forced to sit out international action during the March round of friendlies, but Lee Sharpe has told GOAL that the talented 22-year-old is one of those that should be picked on reputation alone.
The highly-anticipated Finalissima clash between reigning European champions Spain and South American counterparts Argentina, scheduled for March 27 in Doha, has been thrown into serious doubt. Following recent geopolitical developments, including Iranian strikes on bases within the country and an escalation of conflict across the Middle East, Qatar has taken the drastic step of halting all sporting activity.
Real Madrid star Rodrygo has made his feelings crystal clear regarding the composition of the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup, sending a direct message to manager Carlo Ancelotti. As the Selecao continues its transition under the Italian tactician, questions have consistently circled around the role of Neymar. However, for Rodrygo, the veteran playmaker remains an indispensable figure if the South American giants are to reclaim their throne on the global stage.
Manchester United are ramping up their search for a permanent managerial appointment to lead the club into the 2026-27 campaign, and a familiar face from the Premier League has emerged as a serious contender. Roberto Martinez, currently at the helm of the Portugal national team, has reportedly been identified by the Old Trafford hierarchy as a potential candidate to take over the reigns.
At the very start of the year, it looked like Endrick's dream of making Brazil's World Cup squad was dead in the water. The Real Madrid youngster only played 99 minutes for the club in the first half of the season, with then-Blancos boss Xabi Alonso favouring homegrown forward Gonzalo Garcia ahead of him, and a move away became inevitable in the winter transfer window.
Mauricio Pochettino has left the door open to a spectacular return to Tottenham following the 2026 World Cup. The Argentine will leave his role as USMNT boss following the showpiece event in North America this summer, and he's been linked with a switch to Spurs as a long-term replacement for Thomas Frank at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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