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World Cup Golden Boot GFX

World Cup 2026 Golden Boot standings: Messi & David lead

The 2026 World Cup is underway and so is the race for the prestigious Golden Boot - the award given to the tournament's top scorer. There's a long road ahead as 48 nations battle for the top prize, but which star will take home the illustrious award? Here are GOAL's predicted candidates for the prize as we keep track of the tournament's most prolific stars

World CupArgentina
World Cup Power Rankings GFX

WC26 Power Rankings: Messi powers Argentina to top spot

The first round of 2026 World Cup group-stage fixtures is in the books, and the tournament has gotten off to a flyer. Despite a lack of eye-catching fixtures on paper in the new, expanded format, there have been thrills and spills aplenty, with all the big names showing up for their respective countries on football's biggest stage. Well, almost all of them.

Power rankingsWorld Cup
Norway ratings

Welcome to the party, Erling! Haaland powers Norway past Iraq

Erling Haaland was the predictable protagonist as Norway picked up a crucial 4-1 victory over Iraq in their first World Cup match since 1998 on Tuesday. The Manchester City striker's first-half brace proved to be decisive, helping to ensure the dark horses made a winning start in Boston in the so-called 'Group of Death'.

Player ratingsIraq
Norway GFX

Haaland's supporting cast make Norway genuine challengers

Erling Haaland will carry the hopes of a nation as Norway return to football's biggest stage this summer after a 28-year absence, but while his goals will be vital to their cause, the Manchester City hitman won't be shouldering that burden alone. The Scandinavians are back at the World Cup having built a solid team unit that isn't solely reliant on its star striker, and the supporting cast will be looking to show what they can do in North America.

AnalysisE. Haaland
Spain v Cabo Verde: Group H - FIFA World Cup 2026

How have debutant teams performed at the FIFA World Cup?

Four nations will make debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan set to grace the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It will be the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and all will have ambitions of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages.

World CupCabo Verde
World Cup breakout GFX

10 potential breakout stars of the 2026 World Cup

It's so close you can almost touch it. After years of build-up, the 2026 World Cup will kick-off on Thursday when co-hosts Mexico face off against South Africa in a repeat of the opening game from 2010. Over the next five-and-a-half weeks, records will be broken and legacies rewritten as a number of modern greats do battle to win the most recognisable trophy in all of sport.

AnalysisWorld Cup
World Cup new wave GFX

Yamal, Haaland & 10 stars making their World Cup debuts

We're now just hours away from the start of the 2026 World Cup, with teams currently making their final preparations ahead of the big kick-off in the United States, Mexico and Canada on Thursday. This is the biggest World Cup ever, with 48 teams having qualified, meaning there are a whole host of players making their first appearance on the global stage.

AnalysisWorld Cup
World Cup Golden Boot GFX

RANKED: Top 10 World Cup Golden Boot contenders

After years of build-up, the 2026 World Cup is almost upon us. The best players in the world have descended on the United States, Mexico and Canada with dreams of lifting the most prestigious trophy in global football ahead of the action getting under way in Mexico City.

OpinionWorld Cup
World Cup dark horses GFX

GOAL writers predict the World Cup dark horses

It's so close we can almost taste it. The 2026 World Cup is now just days away, with the best players from around the globe descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada for what promises to be a superb summer of football. While some teams will solely harbour dreams of getting out of the groups, others know that anything other than a trophy parade in late-July will go down as failure. We're set, then, for five-and-a-half weeks of drama, filled with joy and heartbreak in equal measure.

OpinionWorld Cup
Spain vs Iraq - Friendlies

Explained: Why ALL squad players must join World Cup pre-match anthems

FIFA has announced a significant protocol modification that will see every squad member take part in the pre-match national anthems at the upcoming World Cup. Moving away from traditional sporting custom, football's global governing body has mandated that both starting line-ups and substitutes congregate together on the pitch ahead of kick-off.

World CupUSA
mbappe

Palmer, Haaland and Mbappe star in new Nike World Cup film

Nike has unveiled its new "Rip the Script" campaign ahead of the 2026 World Cup, bringing together some of football's biggest names and global celebrities. Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior headline the film, which promotes creativity and instinctive play while showcasing the brand's latest football innovations.

World CupK. Mbappe

Zoom sur les paris

Pronostic Portugal vs Ouzbékistan 23/06/2026 : Ronaldo et ses coéquipiers favoris pour la victoire
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Erling Haaland Norway World Cup portrait GFX

Heeeere's Haaland! Erling ready to make up for lost time

Erling Haaland has openly embraced his reputation as the footballing equivalent of The Terminator. A few years ago, he even wished all of his followers on social media a 'Happy Haalandween' by sharing an image of himself portrayed as half-man and half-goal-scoring machine. However, to think of Haaland solely as a stone-cold killer in front of goal does a disservice to an emotional and colourful character who has never wanted anything but the best for his native Norway.

AnalysisE. Haaland
Martin Odegaard Arsenal 2025-26

Boring to amazing! Odegaard critics at Arsenal shock & surprise

Martin Odegaard has faced criticism at times over the last couple of seasons, but he is now a Premier League title winner at Arsenal and fellow countryman John Arne Riise has told GOAL why he is “shocked and surprised” that anybody has ever doubted an “amazing” talent. The Norway international remains a key cog in Mikel Arteta’s well-oiled machine at Emirates Stadium.

M. OedegaardExclusive
Erling Haaland Ballon d'Or

‘Sh*tload of goals’ - What Haaland needs for Ballon d’Or win

Erling Haaland has been informed of what he will require in order to become a Ballon d’Or winner, with John Arne Riise telling GOAL that the Manchester City superstar needs a “sh*tload of goals” before being recognised as the best player on the planet. The Norwegian striker has tended to deliver on that front, and has long been billed as a natural heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Golden Ball-winning department.

E. HaalandExclusive
Harry Kane Erling Haaland Bayern Munich Manchester City 2025-26

Haaland vs Kane: Riise answers ‘world’s best No.9’ question

Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are undoubtedly two of the finest and most prolific strikers in world football, but which of the Manchester City and Bayern Munich superstars can be considered the best No.9? Former Premier League star John Arne Riise has answered that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL and explained the thinking behind his decision.

E. HaalandH. Kane
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