Thomas Tuchel has fired a stark warning to Phil Foden regarding his place in the upcoming World Cup squad. The England manager admitted the Manchester City playmaker is far from a guaranteed selection, raising serious concerns over the midfielder's inability to translate his dazzling club form to the international stage following a disappointing pair of Wembley friendlies.
Dejan Kulusevski has issued a defiant blast to his international rivals as he enters the final stages of a gruelling rehabilitation process. The Tottenham winger has not featured since May 2025 after suffering a right kneecap injury, but even with his World Cup participation hanging in the balance, he is refusing to lower his expectations for Sweden’s summer campaign.
Borussia Dortmund have been urged to take a firmer stance regarding the future of star centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck. Germany legend Lothar Matthaus believes the club must set a deadline for a final decision and act decisively to avoid a prolonged saga that could disrupt both club and country.
Thomas Tuchel has leaped to the defence of his England side’s perceived over-reliance on Harry Kane, comparing the striker’s impact to that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Three Lions fell to a 1-0 friendly defeat against Japan at Wembley on Tuesday, with the captain forced to watch from the sidelines after picking up a minor injury in training.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has once again called for a radical restructuring of Italian football following the Azzurri's catastrophic failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The outspoken Partenopei owner believes the current 20-team format of Serie A is "destroying" players and leaving the Italy national team with no room to breathe.
Brazil starlet Endrick has opened up on the emotional turmoil he faced before coming off the bench to inspire a 3-1 victory over Croatia. The teenage sensation admitted to feeling a crushing sense of "urgency" before a timely intervention from his wife, Gabriely Miranda, changed his mindset.
The 12 games of the Thomas Tuchel era have yielded mixed results and performances from England. They remain one of the best sides in international football, even if they haven't played particularly well for extended stretches since the Sir Gareth Southgate era. That said, they are among the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup for several reasons.
Brazil icon Ronaldinho is famously known for his samba-inspired flair on the football pitch, but the legendary playmaker is now officially bringing that rhythm to the boardroom. The former Barcelona and AC Milan star has announced the launch of a new music label, Tu Musica, with plans to release a massive project inspired by the upcoming World Cup.
Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe sparked wild celebrations in Kinshasa by scoring a dramatic 100th-minute winner to send DR Congo to the 2026 World Cup. The historic 1-0 victory over Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off final ends a 52-year absence from the global stage for the Central African nation.
After Italy once again failed to qualify for the World Cup, the president of the Italian Football Federation is facing calls for his resignation from politicians.
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic was a surprise guest in the stands as Italy suffered a historic defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina, failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The 24-time Grand Slam winner joined a raucous crowd in Zenica to witness the four-time world champions lose a tense playoff final clash on penalties.
Robert Lewandowski’s dreams of a final World Cup appearance were cruelly extinguished as Poland suffered a dramatic play-off defeat to Sweden in Stockholm. Despite a resilient performance from Jan Urban’s side, a late strike from Viktor Gyokeres secured Sweden's place in this summer's global showpiece, leaving 37-year-old Barcelona striker Lewandowski visibly devastated at the final whistle.
Lionel Scaloni has thrown his support behind Lionel Messi to potentially reach the historic 1,000 career goals milestone, while insisting the Argentina captain does have the "desire" to play at the 2026 World Cup. Speaking after a dominant friendly victory against Zambia, the Albiceleste boss emphasized that the Inter Miami star still possesses the hunger to compete at the very highest level despite already achieving his ultimate dream in Qatar.
The road to the 2026 World Cup is almost over for England. The next time the Three Lions convene, they will do so for two pre-tournament friendlies in the United States, against Costa Rica and New Zealand, before kicking-off their tournament against Croatia on June 17. They will do so as one of the favourites to go all the way, with the pressure on Thomas Tuchel and his players to finally end 60 years of hurt.
Leonardo Spinazzola has laid bare the heartbreak within the Italy squad after Bosnia and Herzegovina extinguished their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup. The veteran fullback admitted his own international dream is likely over while expressing his deepest sympathies for a generation of Italian children who have never seen their nation on the biggest stage.
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