Assan Ouedraogo has been surprisingly called up to the German national team for the 2026 World Cup. The RB Leipzig youngster was added to replace the injured Lennart Karl and has now humorously described how he learned of his good fortune.
Colombia captain James Rodriguez believes international teammate Luis Diaz is a genuine contender for the upcoming Ballon d'Or following a spectacular season with Bayern Munich. The iconic midfielder insists a deep run on the global stage would validate the winger's world-class status, sparking intense excitement ahead of the nation's return to the tournament.
Thomas Tuchel has “done nothing” so far as England manager, Michael Owen has told GOAL, with World Cup “par” for the Three Lions being explained after breezing through another “waste of time” qualification campaign. Another bid for global glory is about to be opened, with the man calling shots from the dugout already being awarded a contract extension.
Former England defender Kyle Walker has defended Jude Bellingham's position in Thomas Tuchel's starting line-up amid growing clamour for him to be dropped. While acknowledging the incredible rise of Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, the veteran full-back believes the Real Madrid star's unique aura remains indispensable for the national team.
There’s a running group that trots through the streets of Toronto on Monday nights, swallowing up sidewalks with expansive crowds, especially when summer temperatures take over the city. On a recent evening, the group passed outside Toronto Stadium, adorned with FIFA's World Cup branding and ready to host six games during the 2026 tournament.
Bukayo Saka has registered just 13 Premier League goals for Arsenal across the last two campaigns, with ex-England winger Chris Waddle telling GOAL where the Gunners forward needs to improve - with Mohamed Salah being held up as inspiration. There has never been any doubting Saka’s creative instincts, but his game could be taken to another level if end product were to be delivered in greater numbers.
Toby Alderweireld has told GOAL why Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku is “pure football”, with the tricky forward considered to be a “dangerous” operator that can illuminate the 2026 World Cup with Belgium. Fans across the globe are looking for creative performers of that ilk to get them off their seats as the best players on the planet descend on North America and prepare to compete for ultimate glory.
Former England defender Gary Neville has lauded FIFA for implementing a series of major rule changes ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The Manchester United legend believes the strict new guidelines, designed to eradicate cynical time-wasting and improve on-field transparency, will significantly enhance the viewing experience for match-going fans.
Darren Anderton has told GOAL that Harry Kane “still has a few years left” in him, with England’s record goalscorer bar expected to be set pretty “high” for those that follow in the most illustrious of footsteps. The current Three Lions captain and talismanic No.9 has 79 international efforts to his name at present, and is showing no sign of slowing down.
Arsenal forward Noni Madueke became the target of light-hearted mockery online after squandering a glaring open-goal opportunity during England's final public warm-up match. Despite his error, Thomas Tuchel's clinical side coasted to a dominant 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Orlando to extend their impressive winning streak.
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.
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.
The 2026 World Cup is almost upon us. Over the course of the next week, the time for talking will stop, and teams will have to prove their credentials with their performances on the pitch in North America. All roads, whether through the United States, Mexico or Canada, will lead to New Jersey on July 19, and the biggest football match on the planet: the World Cup final.
We are now just hours away from the start of the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with all 48 teams having made their way to North America with dreams of glory driving them. All of the pre-qualifying favourites made it safely through, including Spain, Brazil, England, France and defending champions Argentina.
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.
The 2026 World Cup is almost here. After years of build-up, dramatic qualifiers and numerous good - and bad - news stories surrounding FIFA's flagship finals, players and coaches from around the world are completing their last preparations after descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada for the biggest international football tournament to ever have been staged.
There's just a few hours to go until the biggest show on earth gets underway, with the 2026 World Cup kicking off in Mexico City on Thursday. If you haven't already caught a serious case of World Cup fever, what better way to get in the mood than by checking out the very best kits that will be on show in North America this summer.
The 2026 World Cup is set to be a historic tournament, unlike any that have come before it. Expanded to 48 teams for the first time and spread across three countries - the United States, Canada and Mexico - it promises to be the biggest spectacle in the competition’s near-100-year history.
The World Cup is now just a few hours away, with teams currently making their final preparations for the tournament in North America. The stage is set for a whole host of players to make themselves national heroes, including some of the most exciting youngsters in the game today.
Thomas Tuchel has downplayed a moment of apparent friction between Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon during England's final World Cup warm-up match. The Real Madrid superstar appeared ready to take a second-half penalty before being told to hand the ball over to the Barcelona's new winger.
England have been waiting 60 years for football to “come home”, so could that finally happen in 2026? Michael Owen has told GOAL that a trophy will be secured at some point, with Thomas Tuchel considered to have taken inspiration from Sir Gareth Southgate as he endeavours to guide the Three Lions one stage further than his predecessor managed.
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a frustrating evening in Leiria as Portugal concluded their 2026 World Cup preparations with a slender 2-1 victory over Nigeria. Despite the win, the 41-year-old veteran lacked his usual clinical edge, spurning several golden opportunities to extend his legendary international goal tally.
It's so close we can almost taste it. The 2026 World Cup is now just hours away, with the best players on the planet having descended on the United States, Canada and Mexico 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.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has declared his squad fully prepared for the upcoming World Cup following a comprehensive 3-0 warm-up victory over Costa Rica in Orlando. The German tactician praised the immense cohesion and team spirit within the camp as the Three Lions look to end their 60-year wait for global silverware.
Santiago Gimenez failed to register a single Serie A goal for AC Milan during the 2025-26 campaign, with legendary Mexican striker Jared Borgetti explaining his fellow countryman’s struggles to GOAL. Despite enduring a tough time at club level, leading to inevitable transfer talk, the 25-year-old forward is still looking forward to starring at a home World Cup finals.
England completed their World Cup preparations with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in their rain-delayed final warm-up friendly on Wednesday. It was a bruising encounter against a physical opponent, but Thomas Tuchel's men kept their cool to dominate in the sweltering Orlando heat courtesy of goals from Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins.
Barcelona winger Raphinha has expressed immense confidence in Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior and himself to lead Brazil to their sixth World Cup triumph this summer. Speaking from the national team's training camp ahead of the 2026 tournament, the attacker highlighted the crucial blend of youth and experience required to succeed, as they look to end a drought dating back to 2002.
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