Analysis

Before the start of Lionel Messi's sixth World Cup, the common consensus was that he'd seen and done it all. After effectively completing football four years ago in Qatar, there was even a fear that there was no way he could, at 39 years of age, add to his legacy - only slightly sully it. Messi, though, has spent his entire career making a mockery out of conventional wisdom and has actually managed to solidify his status as the greatest player of all time by becoming the World Cup's all-time leading goal-scorer and assist-maker during Argentina's run to the semi-finals.

Spain-France and England-Argentina headline a blockbuster semifinal lineup as the World Cup enters its decisive week.

Diego Luna spoke with GOAL about the pain of missing the World Cup, the difficult lessons he has learned, and why becoming a better player starts with changing his approach every day.

FIFA’s Creator Correspondent program has given 30 TikTok personalities remarkable access at the World Cup - and offered a glimpse of how social media is reshaping soccer coverage in North America.

Watch the video again and you can almost see Jude Bellingham loading his answer as the interviewer navigates the question. The Real Madrid superstar had just been informed that his manager, Thomas Tuchel, was "disappointed" with England's performance following a gusty 2-1 win over Norway in Miami on Saturday night. Bellingham's remarkably clippable response? "Whatever."

Kylian Mbappe will be relishing France's World Cup semi-final clash with Spain more than most. Not only is this the opportunity to exact revenge for the painful defeat to La Roja at the same stage of Euro 2024 two years ago, but the attacker also has the chance to deliver a rebuttal to his vociferous critics back in Madrid after a tumultuous season at club level. What's more, he comes into the showdown in the form of his life.

The El Tri legend inherits renewed belief, an emerging generation and enormous expectations. From defining Gilberto Mora’s role to deciding Edson Álvarez’s future, here is what Márquez must do to move Mexico forward.

Mauricio Pochettino’s future remains uncertain, leaving U.S. Soccer with several intriguing paths as it begins planning for the 2030 World Cup cycle.

The World Cup has a remarkable ability to completely alter the course of careers. There is no grander stage in the game, meaning impressive performances garner the kind of acclaim and attention that is simply not possible in any other arena. Consequently, the transfer market tends to go wild in and around World Cups, as clubs scramble to snap up previously hidden gems or suddenly established stars.

Canada’s historic home World Cup raised expectations and captured the country. Now the CPL, Whitecaps and player pathways must ensure it was more than a month-long party.

The goalkeeper was facing retirement as recently as December last year, but he has become a USL Championship hero after breaking the World Cup save record.

Four years can transform a player pool. GOAL picks the established stars, rising prospects and wild cards who could form the USMNT’s next World Cup lineup.

Erling Haaland has carried the hopes of a nation upon Norway's return to football's biggest stage after a 28-year absence, but while his goals have been vital to their cause, the Manchester City hitman hasn't been shouldering that burden alone. The Scandinavians are back at the World Cup having built a solid team unit that isn't solely reliant on its star striker, and the supporting cast have been showing what they can do in North America.

This is no doubt the biggest selection decision of Thomas Tuchel's England tenure to date. The Three Lions are favourites going into Saturday's World Cup quarter-final clash with Norway in Miami. England really should have too much quality all over the field for their Scandinavian opponents. But that doesn't mean Tuchel has it easy. England have a handful of tricky decisions to make.

Everyone is out to get the winger this week and, after so many years of excitement, his reputation is now, at the very least, up for debate

U.S. Soccer needs to think bigger after the USMNT’s World Cup exit, from coaching and player development to ticket prices and true road tests.

There's a lot to like about England's World Cup quarter-final clash with Norway on Saturday evening. It's a game laden with storylines. England have star power at numerous positions. Norway are the more cohesive team, geared towards serving one star. England have won at the Azteca. Norway knocked out Brazil. England have won the World Cup. Norway have not.

Liverpool fans may well be casting a keen eye over France's World Cup showdown with Morocco on Thursday, as a brewing transfer saga provides an intriguing subplot to the quarter-final. Something of a merry-go-round could well see Les Bleus winger Bradley Barcola end up at Anfield this summer - ironically a result of the Reds losing out to his current employers Paris Saint-Germain in the battle to sign Yan Diomande.

GOAL breaks down where each player of the 2026 USMNT World Cup squad stands as a new cycle begins.

The final 20 minutes of England's dramatic, round-of-16 win over Mexico suited Jordan Pickford down to the ground. The Three Lions were down to 10 men, and Thomas Tuchel made the remit clear: To bunker in and keep the ball as far away from goal as possible. Pickford performed his task to a tee.

The team's World Cup exit wasn't defined by a singular moment, but by a series of factors that doomed them on the day

The coach was brought in to change culture, and maybe he did, but the result ended up being the same in the end

The USMNT collapsed against Belgium, and suffered an emphatic loss in the biggest game in the program's history

The inquest into Brazil's disastrous World Cup exit is well underway after the five-time winners were unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament at the hands of dark horses Norway and the goals of Erling Haaland. In truth, the Selecao never really got going in North America - hamstrung by an ageing, rag-tag squad that was yet to gel as they often relied on Vinicius Jr to deliver the goods.

The USMNT had a chance to change perceptions on home soil, but a 4-1 loss to Belgium instead raised familiar questions about progress, pressure and missed opportunity.

Christian Pulisic went quiet, Mauricio Pochettino fell short and the USMNT’s dream run ended with a brutal reality check against Belgium.

Every USMNT World Cup goal has sparked joy far beyond the pitch, with families, friends, and loved ones sharing in moments years in the making.

Well, it was never going to be easy, was it? If England were to win at the Azteca - something that only two teams had managed before in a competitive fixture - there were going to be bumps, bruises and a fair few scares. What probably wasn't accounted for, though, was total chaos. And that's what this was: a back and forth, gutsy, often brilliant, consistently nerve-wracking and, ultimately, glorious 3-2 win over Mexico that provided an immense boost to England's World Cup hopes.

Mikel Oyarzabal was one of five Real Sociedad players in Spain's Euro 2024 squad. No other club had more. But neither Oyarzabal nor his fellow Basques made a song and dance about their role in Spain's success in Germany. "That would be us," he told The Guardian. "[We] don't like being in the spotlight." It's getting harder and harder for him to avoid it, though.