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World Cup flops GFX

GOAL writers predict which teams will flop at the World Cup

It's so close we can almost taste it. The 2026 World Cup is now just a two 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.

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WC26 Power Rankings: Spain stay No.1 as Brazil & U.S. climb

There really is nothing like the World Cup. Even just qualifying generates a level of nationwide excitement that the club game simply cannot match, which is why we witnessed truly joyous scenes all across the globe as one country after another secured a spot at this summer's festival of football in North America. The final six participants were confirmed in March, with Sweden, Turkiye, Czechia and Bosnia & Herzegovina taking the four remaining slots in Europe, while Iraq and DR Congo came out of the inter-confederation play-offs.

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Six biggest selection debates facing the World Cup favourites

We are now just days away, and World Cup fever is gripping the globe as teams from 48 countries descend on the United States, Mexico and Canada for the biggest tournament FIFA have ever staged. Managers are making their final plans ahead of the opening round of group games, but for some there are still massive decisions to be made.

Lennart Karl Germany 2026

Disaster for Germany as team-mate explains how Karl suffered awful injury

Germany have been dealt a massive blow ahead of the 2026 World Cup with the news that Bayern Munich starlet Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the tournament. The 18-year-old’s dreams were crushed during the final training session before Germany's friendly against the USA, leaving Julian Nagelsmann to find an emergency replacement. Team-mate Deniz Undav later detailed the awful setback.

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Yamal, Haaland & 10 stars making their World Cup debuts

We're now less than a week 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.

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.

MAINZ, GERMANY - MAY 31: Starting lineup of Germany with Jamal Musiala, Nico Schlotterbeck, Felix Nmecha, Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Oliver Baumann, Lennart Karl, Nathaniel Brown, Joshua Kimmich, Deniz Undav and Florian Wirtz during the international friendly match between Germany and Finland at MEWA Arena on May 31, 2026 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Helge Prang - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

Mega blow for Germany as Bayern star OUT of World Cup

Germany's World Cup preparations have been hit by a devastating blow after teenage forward Lennart Karl was ruled out of the upcoming tournament. The 18-year-old Bayern Munich prodigy sustained a severe thigh injury during Die Mannschaft's final training session, forcing national team manager Julian Nagelsmann to call up a late replacement.

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Palmer & the biggest stars to miss out on the World Cup

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 while descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada for the biggest international football tournament to ever have been staged.

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RANKED: Top 20 kits at the 2026 World Cup

There's just one week to go until the biggest show on earth gets underway, with the 2026 World Cup kicking off on June 11. 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.

GFX Lennart Karl Lionel Messi

Lennart Karl's special Messi tribute revealed

Bayern Munich's rising star Lennart Karl has revealed the unique way he keeps his footballing idol close to him during every match. The Germany international, who is rapidly becoming one of the most talked-about talents in the Bundesliga, has admitted to carrying a secret tribute to Lionel Messi onto the pitch.

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Why 2026 is the best managerial line up in World Cup history

The 2026 World Cup is almost upon us. In just over a 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.

England Training & Press Conference

'Better chance than Germany!' - England's WC hopes assessed

Steffen Freund believes England are currently better equipped than Germany to challenge for the 2026 World Cup, though he has warned of a potential stumbling block for Thomas Tuchel. The former Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund midfielder suggests that while the Three Lions possess superior squad depth, the manager's history with man-management could pose a threat to their pursuit of silverware.