Lists

We are now just over two months out from the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with all 48 teams now locked in following the culmination of the various play-offs during the March international break. All of the pre-tournament favourites made it safely through qualifying, including Spain, Brazil, England, France and defending champions Argentina.

It's never easy with the England men's national team. On paper, they should have enough quality, experience and firepower to blow most sides on this planet to smithereens. Then you sit down, watch them and wonder whether they are actually a team of total strangers assembled purely out of spite to mildly annoy the fans who had hoped so much of them. On the basis of their March friendlies, it would be a fair assumption to make.

Lionel Messi delivered a vintage performance at La Bombonera, recording a goal and an assist as Argentina dismantled Zambia 5-0 in their final home fixture before the 2026 World Cup. The Inter Miami icon captained the world champions to a dominant victory in what is expected to be the last home game he plays for his country.

Thomas Tuchel has refused to entertain suggestions that the weight of the England shirt is getting to his players following a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Japan. The Three Lions were booed off at Wembley after Kaoru Mitoma's first-half strike condemned them to a second underwhelming result in the space of four days.

Felix Nmecha sustained a knee injury during the Bundesliga match against Hamburger SV. New details are now coming to light.

GOAL breaks down all the confirmed qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, plus the teams who could soon be on their way.

It seems BVB won’t be able to go on a major spending spree this summer. Unless, that is, one of their key players is sold.

The German national team’s attack shines even without (and with) Deniz Undav; Lennart Karl is proving himself worthy of more than just a trial run; the defence is holding its own despite the odd wobble; and Julian Nagelsmann’s measures are paying off. The winners and losers at the DFB following the March training camp.

Mauricio Pochettino believes his team is close and another loss will serve as a reminder of how fine margins can be against the world's elite

Bruno Fernandes grabbed two assists and Joao Felix got on the scoresheet as Portugal saw off the United States, 2-0, on Tuesday. The Selecao grabbed goals either side of half-time, and were disciplined in between to ease to a win in Atlanta. Manager Roberto Martinez would have liked to have had Cristiano Ronaldo at his disposal, but he will take heart from the fact that his side got the job done without their main man.

The U.S. played with more intensity and created a fair number of chances to get something from the game, but they never quite got the final details right on either side of the field

The Nerazzurri were held up in Florence too: Milan have closed the gap from 10 points to 6, while Napoli have narrowed the gap from 14 points to 7.

Liverpool have been handed a significant injury scare just days before their FA Cup encounter with Manchester City after Jeremie Frimpong was forced off during the international break. The wing-back, who has been a vital part of Arne Slot's system this season, lasted less than a quarter of an hour after being introduced for the Netherlands.

The Czech Republic went to a penalty shoot-out twice – and both times the team kept their nerve. After two real nail-biters, the team has now qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 20 years.

Tottenham Hotspur are desperately looking to finalise their new coaching setup to avoid a catastrophic relegation. Roberto De Zerbi is poised to take the managerial hot seat and has reportedly reached out to Italy and AC Milan legend Alessandro Nesta. The World Cup-winning defender has been offered a vital role as an assistant manager to help fix a leaky defence and save the club.

Fenerbahce president Sadettin Saran was involved in a car accident on Tuesday while travelling to the Chobani Stadium. The incident occurred in the district of Kadikoy as the club chief was heading to the ground for scheduled executive meetings.

Northern Ireland and Blackburn Rovers manager Michael O'Neill has provoked a fierce backlash from Championship relegation rivals. Balancing his dual roles, the 56-year-old is accused of a major conflict of interest after heavily utilising key players from clubs battling Blackburn for survival in a 1-1 friendly draw, while resting his own prospect until the 80th minute.

England's last game before the end of the 2025-26 club season saw them lose 1-0 at home to Japan in a friendly on Tuesday. Thomas Tuchel made 10 changes to the side that started their 1-1 draw with Uruguay last Friday, slotting in most of his preferred players that are expected to go to the World Cup - minus the unfit Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham - but they produced a disjointed performances that raised further questions over their chances of glory this summer.

The childhood home of Diego Maradona has undergone a significant transformation to serve the community in the wake of the legend’s passing. Located in the Villa Fiorito neighbourhood, the property is now being used as a soup kitchen to provide essential support to locals facing economic hardship.

Newcastle United are facing the serious threat of a substantial financial penalty from European football's governing body following a controversial internal transaction. While the recent sale of their stadium leasehold was designed to navigate domestic spending limits, UEFA’s stricter regulations mean the club could be heavily punished for the accounting manoeuvre.

Max Dowman delivered a breathtaking individual performance to guide England Under-19s to a dominant 6-0 victory over Portugal. The highly-rated Arsenal academy graduate scored a spectacular goal and provided two crucial assists. Despite the emphatic win, the Young Lions narrowly missed out on qualification for the upcoming European Championship finals after Serbia defeated Poland.

Ibrahima Konate is reportedly prepared to wait for an offer from Real Madrid as his contract situation at Liverpool continues to stall. The French international is entering a critical phase of his career and appears to have set his sights on a potential move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Turkiye Under-21s manager Egemen Korkmaz was rushed to hospital after a distressing incident during a UEFA European Championship qualifier against Croatia on March 31. The coach suffered a frightening fall on the touchline, temporarily losing consciousness, which led to the match being suspended as medical staff rushed onto the pitch to provide immediate emergency treatment.

Dutch pundit Hans Kraay Jr has launched a scathing attack on the English media, claiming analysts and "self-proclaimed know-it-alls" have lost their minds regarding Virgil van Dijk. The Liverpool captain has faced intense scrutiny this season as the Reds have struggled to maintain their usual high standards at the back.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has doubled down on his commitment to see Iran compete in the 2026 World Cup, despite the escalating military conflict involving the United States. Speaking during a surprise appearance at a friendly match in Turkey, the governing body's chief dismissed suggestions that the team might be relocated or withdrawn from the tournament.

Towering Czechia goalkeeper Radek Vitek is determined to return to Manchester United and fight Senne Lammens for a starting role, explicitly rejecting the idea of sitting on the bench. The stopper is currently on loan at Bristol City.

Former Manchester United defender Gerard Pique has completely ruled out the possibility of becoming the club's manager in the future. The Spaniard cited the demanding daily routine and the necessity of managing massive egos as the main reasons he has no interest in replacing interim boss Michael Carrick, preferring instead to stay entirely disconnected from the sport's coaching side.

Tottenham Hotspur are bracing themselves for a significant departure this summer as reports emerge that first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has agreed on the terms of an exit. The Italian international has been one of the few bright sparks in a turbulent period for the club, but it appears his future lies away from North London.

Tottenham have appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager in a desperate bid to stave off relegation from the Premier League. Spurs sit 17th in the Premier League table and are just one point above the drop zone with seven games of the season remaining.