World Cup news

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed he is closing in on becoming Germany's next head coach after agreeing a 'genereous' exit arrangement with Red Bull group. The former Liverpool manager says only formal discussions remain before an official announcement, with the DFB edging closer to appointing its preferred candidate.

Lamine Yamal was at the heart of the celebrations as Spain secured their second World Cup star with a dramatic victory over Argentina in New Jersey. Amidst the joy of the post-match festivities, the Barcelona star shared a quiet, romantic moment with his girlfriend, Ines Garcia Santos, as they celebrated a career-defining achievement.

Spain forward Nico Williams dedicated La Roja's historic World Cup final triumph over Argentina to his "idol" Neymar. The Athletic Club star provided the vital extra-time assist for Ferran Torres' winner at the New York New Jersey Stadium, ensuring his nation secured their second global crown to equal France and Uruguay.

Spain have officially etched their names into the history books after a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final. Luis de la Fuente's side secured their second world title with a superb defensive display, extending their unbeaten run to a record-breaking 38 matches. The triumph in North America sees La Roja surpass the previous all-time record.

With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he was among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.

After five weeks, a record 104 matches played and 308 goals scored, the 2026 World Cup is officially over. From a purely footballing perspective, FIFA's biggest tournament of all time did not disappoint, with 48 teams doing battle across three host countries and the vast expanse of North America. And when 46 of those nations had been whittled away, only the top two ranked teams on the planet remained: Spain and Argentina.

There's no sporting event bigger than the World Cup. It's the pinnacle of professional football, where global superstars are born, dreams die and legends live forever. Sometimes, with just one goal, one pass, one tackle, one block or one save, a previously little-known player can become a national hero, a name eternally etched in the memory of a country's collective consciousness.

France’s 2026 World Cup campaign ended in a cloud of toxicity and defensive fragility following a remarkable 6-4 defeat to England in the third-place playoff. While the goal-fest in Miami provided entertainment for the neutral, veteran midfielder Adrien Rabiot was left fuming at the lack of professionalism shown by his teammates during Didier Deschamps' final game in charge.

Harry Kane has confessed that the England squad remains in a "grieving stage" following their heartbreaking semi-final exit at the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Despite the disappointment of missing out on a first global final in 60 years, the Three Lions captain has offered his full support to manager Thomas Tuchel.

Several British television pundits have fiercely condemned the unsavoury post-match behaviour of Leandro Paredes following Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain in New Jersey. The tense fixture boiled over completely at the final whistle, with Paredes ultimately being shown a red card for his part in the ugly scenes.

Lamine Yamal received glowing praise after helping Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final. The 19-year-old produced another composed display on football's biggest stage, with former England goalkeeper Joe Hart claiming the Barcelona winger had "completed football" after adding a World Cup winners' medal to his European Championship triumph.

Lionel Messi was left inconsolable at MetLife Stadium as Argentina's quest for back-to-back world titles ended in a shattering extra-time defeat to Spain. The 39-year-old legend, appearing in his sixth World Cup, could not find the inspiration needed to overcome a dominant Spain side, and broke down in tears as the result sank in.

Argentina’s players have been branded "classless" and an "embarrassment" after turning their backs on Spain during the World Cup trophy presentation. Following a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in extra-time, Lionel Messi and his team-mates refused to watch as their opponents celebrated at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Argentina's president has confirmed that a public holiday will be granted to honour the squad's tournament campaign in North America. Despite losing the showpiece finale to Spain in extra time, Javier Milei announced that the players and coaching staff will be allowed to choose the exact date for the upcoming celebrations.

The 2026 World Cup came to a close in New Jersey on Sunday as Spain were deservedly crowned champions after a dour 1-0 win over 10-man Argentina in one of the worst finals in the tournament history. La Roja substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of a game that was essentially attack versus defence even before Enzo Fernandez got himself stupidly sent off for a second yellow card in the final minute of normal time.

At the end of a gruelling battle of footballing philosophies, Spain are world champions once again. It was control vs chaos in the 2026 World Cup final as Luis de la Fuente's pass masters came up against the holders and experts in the dark arts, Argentina. Ultimately, after 120 minutes of bruising action, La Roja (and football) would prevail 1-0, leaving Lionel Messi disconsolate.

The 2026 World Cup has reached its conclusion, with Spain emerging triumphant as they captured another global title. A memorable tournament in North America saw superstar performers from every corner of the planet take centre stage. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham all illuminated proceedings, but Rodri signed off with the best player prize.