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Tottenham full-back Pedro Porro has signed a new contract ahead of the 2026-27 season, ending any hopes of a summer transfer for reported suitors Manchester City and Real Madrid. The Spaniard, who initially joined the club from Sporting CP in January 2023, has committed his future to Spurs through to 2031.

Jordan Pickford has stated his desire to take a penalty for England, but would the Everton goalkeeper be picked to step up in a shootout if a 2026 World Cup fixture went the distance? Former Three Lions shot-stopper David James has told GOAL what Thomas Tuchel’s stance is likely to be, with history dictating that plans do need to be drawn up in that department.

Ruben Amorim is set for a return to the touchline after reaching an agreement to become the next manager of AC Milan, according to reports. The Portuguese tactician, who has been out of work since his dismissal from Manchester United in January, is expected to sign an initial two-year deal to replace Massimiliano Allegri at San Siro.

Bayern Munich are on the verge of completing a blockbuster deal for Ismael Saibari, with the PSV Eindhoven winger reportedly agreeing to a move worth €55 million. The Morocco international was one of the standout performers in the Eredivisie last season and is now set to undergo a medical with the German giants.

Graham Potter’s World Cup debut as Sweden manager was a dream on the pitch but the former Chelsea boss was left nursing a bloodied ear following a dominant 5-1 victory over Tunisia. While his side moved to the top of Group F with a ruthless attacking display, Potter sustained a mystery injury during the post-match celebrations.

Jude Bellingham has been told there will be “no hiding place” for him in the Real Madrid circus as Jose Mourinho returns as ringmaster, with ex-England international Peter Reid telling GOAL what the all-action midfielder needs to prove. A place has been found in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans despite a testing campaign at club level being endured in 2025-26.

Real Madrid have officially secured the signing of Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella in a deal worth £52 million, marking the first major acquisition of Jose Mourinho’s second tenure at the Bernabeu. The Spanish international returns to his homeland after a five-year stint in the Premier League, ending a period of speculation regarding his future at Stamford Bridge.

Rafael van der Vaart has launched a stinging attack on Virgil van Dijk, comparing the Netherlands captain to a commercial airliner following a shaky defensive display against Japan. Despite the Liverpool man finding the net in the 2-2 draw, Van der Vaart admitted he was stunned by the defender's lack of mobility during the Netherlands' World Cup opener.

Real Madrid believe Manchester United are now the clear favourites to secure the signature of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes. The Spanish giants have reportedly stepped back from a potential pursuit, acknowledging that the Red Devils have moved into an advanced position for the 21-year-old.

Kylian Mbappe has issued a rallying cry to his France team-mates by admitting he must evolve his own game to ensure World Cup glory. The Les Bleus captain acknowledges that his defensive contributions have often been a point of contention and is determined to silence the critics in North America.

Tottenham have been told how many transfers they need to give Roberto De Zerbi complete authority over in the summer window, with Brad Friedel telling GOAL that Spurs can enjoy a “quick resurrection” back into the Premier League’s top six. Such a transformation will, however, only occur if the man in the dugout is allowed to refresh an underperforming squad as he sees fit.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has found himself at the centre of a social media storm after choosing to attend the USMNT's opening match to support his pop-star girlfriend, Katy Perry, over his own national team. The 54-year-old was a notable absentee as Canada played their first-ever home World Cup fixture, a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Jurgen Klopp has issued a heartfelt apology to Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann following a controversial slip of the tongue on live television. The former Liverpool manager, who is currently serving as a pundit during the 2026 World Cup, admitted he felt like "an idiot" after a specific word choice sparked a national debate regarding Nagelsmann’s job security.

After Arsenal lost to Manchester City in April, Declan Rice, perhaps a little inadvertently, went viral. The England midfielder slumped on his heels, sprung to his feet defiantly, and was pictured shouting, "It's not done!" to his Gunners team-mates. At the time, it didn't look good; Arsenal's Premier League lead had shrunk to just three points - and City still had a game in hand.

Pep Guardiola is out of work, after leaving Manchester City, but should his sudden availability concern England boss Thomas Tuchel - a man under pressure to deliver at the 2026 World Cup? Former Three Lions star Michael Owen has given two reasons to GOAL why a German tactician filling the most demanding of roles should not fret about the shadow cast by a highly-decorated Catalan coach.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has delivered a massive fitness boost ahead of their World Cup opener, confirming that Lamine Yamal is in "perfect condition" to face Cape Verde. The Barcelona sensation suffered a serious injury towards the end of the 2025-26 campaign that threatened to derail his tournament debut, but he has worked hard to recover quicker than expected.

Manchester United are set for a significant financial windfall as former manager Ruben Amorim nears a return to the dugout with AC Milan. The Portuguese tactician, who was dismissed from Old Trafford hotseat in January, is the frontrunner to take over at San Siro following a disappointing campaign for the Rossoneri.

Sweden made a devastating statement of intent at the 2026 World Cup as they dismantled Tunisia 5-1 to move to the top of Group F. Spearheaded by the clinical duo of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, who both got their names on the scoresheet, the Scandinavians proved far too powerful for their African opponents in Monterrey.

Uruguay’s 2026 World Cup campaign has been hit by a significant logistical setback after multiple flight delays left Marcelo Bielsa’s squad temporarily stranded in Mexico. The La Celeste party suffered a cancellation and further hold-ups due to paperwork issues just 24 hours before their opening match against Saudi Arabia.

For a coach who's worked in professional football for nearly 40 years, Marcelo Bielsa hasn't won many trophies at the highest level. Pep Guardiola says that doesn't matter, though. "To be loved is this biggest title, bigger than the Champions League or Premier League or whatever," the Catalan once argued. "To be loved is the most important thing, and I think Marcelo has that more than any other manager in the world."

The 2026 World Cup was supposed to be another waypoint on Lamine Yamal's path to becoming a generation-defining superstar, but there is the genuine threat that an injury could deprive the tournament of one of its biggest names. The Spanish wonderkid made everyone sit up and take notice at Euro 2024, and two years on, the 18-year-old seemed primed to seize the limelight once again. But instead, it may well be a waiting game.

Four years ago in Qatar, Lionel Messi ended the GOAT debate by leading Argentina to victory over France in the World Cup final. There was a player on the other team, though, who actually appeared to have sufficient talent to potentially reopen it one day. After all, Kylian Mbappe had actually pipped Messi to the tournament's Golden Boot by outscoring the Argentine No.10 in that epic encounter in Lusail thanks to the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since Sir Geoff Hurst all the way back in 1966.

Kylian Mbappe is learning how to share the limelight, Frank Leboeuf has told GOAL, with the World Cup-winning Frenchman boasting similar main character energy to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Those qualities are currently illuminating La Liga and the 2026 World Cup, but could they pass through the English Premier League at some point?

Amad Diallo proved to be the hero for Ivory Coast as his dramatic 90th-minute strike secured a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their 2026 World Cup opener. The Manchester United winger stepped off the bench to end the Elephants' 12-year wait for a win on the world stage while simultaneously snapping Ecuador's remarkable 19-game unbeaten streak.

The Netherlands conceded a late equaliser as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Japan in their opening game of the 2026 World Cup. Second-half strikes from Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville looked to have got the Oranje over the line, but they were pegged back on both occasions as Group F began in Dallas.

Germany made an early statement at the 2026 World Cup as they ran out 7-1 winners over tournament debutants Curacao. A brace from Kai Havertz and goals from Felix Nmecha, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav ensured a relatively straightforward introduction to Group E for Die Mannschaft, though they were given something of a shock when Curacao found the net midway through the first half.

The USMNT had one chance to show the country - and the world - what soccer in America is and could become. They made the most of it.

From enchiladas to coxinha, discover the fan-favorite foods of Groups G, H and I and where to find them across New York City during the 2026 World Cup.

The USMNT’s 4-1 World Cup-opening win over Paraguay drew 15.986 million viewers across FOX, FOX One and Tubi, making it the most-watched USMNT telecast ever and another major sign of soccer’s growing pull in the United States. The broadcast peaked at 18.86 million viewers, while the match also became the most-streamed English-language USMNT game on record.