World Cup news

England manager Thomas Tuchel has surprised everyone with an XXL squad for the training camp in March. However, there was no place for a Real Madrid superstar.

Thomas Tuchel has explained the thinking behind picking a larger 35-man England squad for the upcoming international break, revealing that he intends to split the group into two separate camps for the friendlies against Uruguay and Japan as he prepares his final squad assessment ahead of this summer's World Cup, where he will have to trim down to just 25 players.

With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued with inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he was among a crowded field of contenders as the 2026 race got going.

The manager's selections for the World Cup play-offs.

CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez has sensationally declared Argentina "two-time champions" of the Finalissima. The South American chief hit out at Spain and UEFA after the highly anticipated clash between the continental kings was officially scrapped.

Roman Weidenfeller is missing one particular Borussia Dortmund player from national team manager Julian Nagelsmann’s March squad.

Dietmar Hamann has urged Julian Nagelsmann to ensure Bayern Munich starlet Lennart Karl is on the plane for the upcoming World Cup, claiming the teenage sensation already plays like a veteran. The former Liverpool and Germany midfielder believes the 18-year-old offers a unique threat that the national team simply cannot do without on the biggest stage.

Harry Kane is “in the discussion” for Ballon d’Or honours, but may need to win the Champions League with Bayern Munich and star for England at the 2026 World Cup in order to land the Golden Ball. Emile Heskey admits as much, with the former Three Lions forward telling GOAL how his fellow striker can earn the prestigious billing of best player on the planet.

Matthias Ginter of SC Freiburg has once again failed to make the German national team squad – and is, naturally, disappointed.

We already knew Nike had built something special through their Jordan Brand and Paris Saint-Germain collaboration, with the 'Jumpman' logo replacing the 'Swoosh' on the French giants’ shirts for the past eight years - but they've entered another stratosphere after linking up with the Brazilian federation.

The German Football Association (DFB) and kit supplier Adidas have unveiled the German national team’s new away kit for the 2026 World Cup.

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch says he was close to becoming the U.S. Men's National Team coach in 2023, but that the job was suddenly and surprisingly taken off the table. That decision came after Marsch says he turned down an offer from Leicester City with the expectation of taking the USMNT gig.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney has caused a stir by labeling the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa as the worst edition in the history of the tournament. The Manchester United legend’s assessment comes years after a campaign defined by frustration both on and off the pitch for the Three Lions.

The FIFA president does not appear particularly concerned about the conflict in the Middle East ahead of the World Cup in the US

National coach Julian Nagelsmann has announced his final squad ahead of the World Cup squad selection. Jonas Urbig and Lennart Karl have deservedly made the cut, whilst a U-turn could be on the cards in midfield.

Deniz Undav made headlines in the run-up to the DFB squad announcement. Contact with Julian Nagelsmann had recently been deliberately kept to a minimum.

For Julian Nagelsmann, the World Cup squad is not yet set in stone, even after the March selection. Nevertheless, it will be difficult for VfB Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller – who has once again been left out – to get back in the running.