Friendlies

Friendlies news

Bruno Fernandes

No Ronaldo, no fun, as Portugal settle for drab scoreless draw

Portugal were solid defensively but offered little going forward, and were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against a much-changed Mexico with Cristiano Ronaldo sidelined due to injury. Roberto Martinez's men had the majority of the ball, but little concrete to show for it. The two teams combined for three shots on target over the course of 90 forgettable minutes.

England v Serbia - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

Arsenal trio among eight to leave England squad

Thomas Tuchel’s experimental international break has taken a significant hit with the news that Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have returned to Arsenal for medical assessment. Despite only joining up with the squad on Friday after being rested for the 1-1 draw against Uruguay, the pair will play no part in the upcoming clash with Japan. The Football Association confirmed their departure alongside six other players, leaving the squad noticeably thinner for the Wembley encounter.

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Italy v Northern Ireland  -  FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs

UEFA slammed for 'pointless' Wales vs N. Ireland clash

Former Northern Ireland international Chris Brunt has sensationally hit out at UEFA over the scheduling of what he describes as a "pointless" friendly against Wales. Both nations saw their World Cup dreams extinguished during the play-off semi-finals, yet they are still required to travel to Cardiff for a fixture that has no bearing on tournament qualification.

Fenerbahce SK v Gaziantep FK - Trendyol Süper Lig

Kante reveals Ligue 1 transfer talks

N'Golo Kante has revealed that a move to Ligue 1 side Paris FC was a genuine possibility during the previous summer transfer window. Despite being 34 years old, the tireless midfielder remains a high-value target for clubs across Europe and beyond. While he ultimately stayed in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad for the first half of the season before joining Fenerbahce in February, he has suggested he could still return to his homeland.

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Wirtz criticism unjustified, says Nagelsmann

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has leapt to the defence of Florian Wirtz, insisting that the heavy criticism aimed at the attacker following his move to Liverpool has been unfair. The young playmaker has struggled to consistently find his best form since arriving at Anfield, leading to questions over his adaptation to the Premier League.

Brazil v France - International Friendly

Vini Jr suffers injury blow with Brazil

Brazil have been hit by a significant injury scare as star forward Vinicius Jr was forced to sit out training ahead of Tuesday’s international friendly against Croatia. The Real Madrid superstar is struggling with a physical issue following the intensive clash against France earlier this week, which saw Brazil suffer a 2-1 defeat.

Brazil v France - International Friendly

Mbappe labelled France's 'greatest' ever

Kylian Mbappe has been hailed as the greatest striker in the history of the French national team by legendary forward Jean-Pierre Papin. The Real Madrid superstar is currently closing in on the all-time scoring record for Les Bleus as he continues to cement his legacy on the international stage.

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Senegal parade AFCON trophy despite CAF ruling

Senegal's national team stars have made a defiant statement by parading the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in front of a sold-out crowd at the Stade de France. Despite a recent ruling that officially stripped them of their continental crown, the Lions of Teranga clearly still consider themselves the rightful champions of Africa.

Belgium v North Macedonia - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

De Bruyne expects 'aggressive' USMNT test

As the international calendar shifts toward the final stretch before World Cup rosters are finalised, Belgium find themselves in the United States for a crucial double-header against the USMNT and Mexico. For Kevin De Bruyne, the match offers a chance to reunite with a manager he knows well from internal Premier League battles during Mauricio Pochettino's time at Tottenham and Chelsea.

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Lukaku agent seeks Napoli peace

Romelu Lukaku’s relationship with Napoli has reached a critical juncture following his decision to remain in Belgium during the international break. While the club and manager Antonio Conte were left frustrated by his absence from the training ground, new reports suggest a diplomatic effort is underway to repair the damage.

Pitarch

Madrid sensation Pitarch chooses Spain over Morocco

The tug-of-war between Spain and Morocco for one of the world's brightest dual-national talents has reached a new chapter. Real Madrid's rising star Thiago Pitarch has seemingly ended the speculation surrounding his international allegiance, sending a definitive message to both federations.

England v Latvia - European Qualifiers Group K - FIFA World Cup 2026

Saka, Kane & Rice arrive to boost England squad

Thomas Tuchel has welcomed another batch pf senior stars back into the England fold following a frustrating 1-1 draw with Uruguay. The likes of Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice are set to feature against Japan after being granted a period of physical and mental rest.

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Maguire slams referee after Araujo horror tackle on Foden

Harry Maguire has hit out at referee Sven Jablonski following England's frustrating draw with Uruguay, questioning how Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo remained on the pitch after a horror tackle on Phil Foden. The Manchester City midfielder was forced off with an injury following the challenge, leaving the Three Lions camp incandescent with the officiating at Wembley.

England v Uruguay - International Friendly

'Part of being an England player' - Henderson reacts to White boos

Ben White’s long-awaited return to the England fold proved to be a rollercoaster evening at Wembley. Jordan Henderson has leapt to the defence of White after the Arsenal defender was targeted by boos from his own supporters during the Three Lions' 1-1 draw with Uruguay. The veteran midfielder insisted that the public do not know the "ins and outs" of White's controversial departure from the 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar.

Trent Alexander-Arnold England

Beckham reacts to Alexander-Arnold England absence

England legend David Beckham has confessed he would find it "very hard" to overlook Trent Alexander-Arnold for a World Cup squad after the Real Madrid star was hit with another international snub. He waded into the debate after Alexander-Arnold became the headline omission from Thomas Tuchel’s latest 35-man selection for clashes against Uruguay and Japan.

Nico Paz Argentina

📽️ | Messi looks stunned as Paz scores free-kick banger

Nico Paz announced himself on the international stage with a moment of pure magic during Argentina’s friendly clash against Mauritania at La Bombonera. The 21-year-old playmaker left even the legendary Lionel Messi watching in awe from the bench as he whipped a sublime free-kick into the back of the net.

Argentina v Mauritania - International Friendly

'One of the worst games' - Emi Martinez blasts Argentina after Mauritania win

Argentina may have secured a victory in their latest international outing, but the mood in the camp is anything but celebratory. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has launched a scathing assessment of the national team following their underwhelming 2-1 victory over Mauritania. The World Cup winner was left fuming with the lack of intensity shown by Lionel Scaloni’s side against the African minnows.

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📽️ | Messi mobbed for selfies after Argentina win

Lionel Messi remains the biggest attraction in world football, as evidenced by the chaotic scenes following Argentina's latest friendly outing against Mauritania. Despite the competitive nature of the match, the full-time whistle sparked a dash from the opposition to secure a permanent memory with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

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Tuchel slams England fans for booing Ben White

Thomas Tuchel has hit out at the section of England supporters who chose to boo Ben White during his long-awaited international return at Wembley. The Arsenal defender made his first appearance for the Three Lions since leaving the 2022 World Cup early, but his comeback was met with a hostile reception from some parts of the home crowd.

Frequently asked questions

Orlando City and Louisville City share the record for the most USL Championship titles, each winning the championship two times. Orlando City won in 2011 and 2013, while Louisville City won in 2017 and 2018.

The 2024 season of USL will see 24 teams compete for the league. When the league was founded in 2011 as USL Pro, only 12 teams contested. That number rose to 14 in 2014, 24 in 2015, 30 in 2017, 36 in 2019, and now back at 24.

Jamaican midfielder Kenardo Forbes is the player with the most appearances in USL history, having featured in 303 games.

With 105 goals (and counting) in 249 games, Jamaican forward Dane Kelly is USL's leading goalscorer of all-time.

Axel Kei, a centre-forward, holds the record as the youngest-ever player in USL Championship history. He made his debut in 2021 at the remarkable age of 13 years and 282 days.

Jamie Vardy, Gareth Bale, James Maddison, John Stones, and Darren Bent are some of the most iconic players to have played in the Championship.

Alen Marcina, Mark Briggs, Trevor James, and Noah Delgado are among the most popular coaches in USL history.

Protective Stadium, which is where Birmingham Legion FC play their home games, is the biggest stadium in the USL with a capacity of 47,000.

Fanendo Ali is the most expensive player in USL history, being bought for $1 million (allocation money) by FC Cincinnati in a trade with Portland Timbers.