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Ten NWSL players, including Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga, headline WAFCON, with continental glory and 2027 World Cup qualification at stake.

Michael Olise finds himself at the centre of one of the summer's biggest transfer stories after starring for France at the World Cup, but all is not as it seems. Various reports have claimed that the Bayern Munich dynamo is Real Madrid's priority target, with the move even endorsed by his compatriot and current 'Galactico', Kylian Mbappe. The reality, though, is that any deal is currently a non-starter.

The USMNT Transfer Notebook tracks American player movements, with the latest developments for those in the U.S. National Team pool.

It feels as though Marcus Rashford and Manchester United are back at square one. Both player and club must have been desperately hoping that Barcelona would take up what looked like a bargain £26 million ($35m) option to buy the attacker at the end of a productive loan spell in Catalunya in 2025-26, but, much to United's disbelief and anger, they turned in another direction. Now, Rashford faces limbo at Old Trafford.

With the new Premier League season now less than a month away from kicking off on August 21, pre-season friendlies are about to get into full swing as the majority of clubs jet off around the globe to ensure the best possible preparation for the 2026-27 campaign. However, due to the World Cup, a number of squads are far from full strength as those who reached the knockout rounds in North America enjoy some belated time off, creating opportunities for others to stake their claim for greater roles over the next 10 months.

As the book closes on the 2026 World Cup, the federation faces a new question: now what?

Chelsea could have a problem on their hands when Enzo Fernandez returns from his post-World Cup holiday - both figuratively and literally. The midfielder and his outspoken agent have made it abundantly clear that he wants to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, and following the ugly conclusion to Argentina's quest for glory in North America, Enzo is now expected to "explore his options". The problem is, he might not have any.

With the World Cup over and pre-season friendlies beginning in earnest over the next week, it feels like the new club season is hurtling towards us at a rather alarming rate. With that in mind, managers are getting increasingly twitchy when it comes to transfers, with coaches around Europe keen to know which players they will and won't be able to call upon over the coming weeks and months.

GOAL breaks down the top five players in CONCACAF following the World Cup

The 2026 World Cup had plenty of flaws, but its lasting legacy may be found in the streets, bars and stadiums where cultures converged and unexpected connections were formed.

The football world seems to move faster and faster these days. No sooner had the World Cup ended than attention immediately shifted to the transfer market - which is understandable, given some massive deals are expected to be confirmed in the coming days, following in the footsteps of Morgan Rogers' shock £117 million move from Aston Villa to Chelsea.

The transfer window usually dominates the back pages during the summer, but that's rarely the case in tournament years as the market is forced to take a back seat. Business never sleeps, however, and several deals have gone under the radar during the 2026 World Cup. After five-and-a-half weeks and some 104 matches, the big event is finally over, which means attention can now turn to the comings and goings at club level.

From discounted tickets and free fan festivals, to 24-hour pitches and a visit to Rikers Island, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani tells GOAL how his administration sought to make the World Cup accessible - and what he hopes it will leave behind.

From Messi's brilliance to the American infatuation with Erling Haaland, GOAL looks at some of the best and worst of the 2026 World Cup

World Cup winners Jurgen Klinsmann, Kaka, Mario Gotze and Carles Puyol tell GOAL about the pressure, relief and lasting impact of lifting the trophy.

Unai Simon won the Golden Glove at the 2026 World Cup after keeping seven clean sheets in eight appearances - a truly historic achievement, and yet it would be difficult to argue that the goalkeeper played a particularly important role in Spain's success because he barely had anything to do.

What an explosive women's transfer window it has been so far! Alexia Putellas, Beth Mead, Sam Kerr, Georgia Stanway and Mary Earps are just some of those who have been on the move in the first few weeks, but while a lot of business has already been done, there are still several big names worth keeping an eye on before windows start to slam shut in September.

There is a sense that we are awaiting the inevitable after Argentina were downed by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. The tears rolling down Lionel Messi's face after the full-time whistle in New Jersey suggested he may well be about to call time on his glittering international career, having powered his country through the tournament in North America at the age of 39.

And just like that, it's over. After five-and-a-half weeks of breathless action, the 2026 World Cup is beginning to appear in the rearview mirror, the biggest international tournament in football history leaving behind a lifetime of memories while champions Spain continue their own celebrations.

FIFA's 104th and final Super Bowl delivered plenty of American pomp and circumstance, yet seemed to forget about the soccer

After nearly 40 epic days, the World Cup has drawn to a close. The final did not deliver on drama, but there is perhaps justice in the best team winning it all.

It's here. The 2026 summer transfer window has arrived and it promises to be an extremely eventful one in the women's game, with several huge stars on the move. Alexia Putellas, Georgia Stanway and Sam Kerr are just some of those who have already completed summer transfers, with there plenty of rumours and reports of more to come and some surprises sure to be sprung, too.

There's no sporting event bigger than the World Cup. It's the pinnacle of professional football, where global superstars are born, dreams die and legends live forever. Sometimes, with just one goal, one pass, one tackle, one block or one save, a previously little-known player can become a national hero, a name eternally etched in the memory of a country's collective consciousness.

After five weeks, a record 104 matches played and 308 goals scored, the 2026 World Cup is officially over. From a purely footballing perspective, FIFA's biggest tournament of all time did not disappoint, with 48 teams doing battle across three host countries and the vast expanse of North America. And when 46 of those nations had been whittled away, only the top two ranked teams on the planet remained: Spain and Argentina.

At the end of a gruelling battle of footballing philosophies, Spain are world champions once again. It was control vs chaos in the 2026 World Cup final as Luis de la Fuente's pass masters came up against the holders and experts in the dark arts, Argentina. Ultimately, after 120 minutes of bruising action, La Roja (and football) would prevail 1-0, leaving Lionel Messi disconsolate.

The 2026 World Cup came to a close in New Jersey on Sunday as Spain were deservedly crowned champions after a dour 1-0 win over 10-man Argentina in one of the worst finals in the tournament history. La Roja substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of a game that was essentially attack versus defence even before Enzo Fernandez got himself stupidly sent off for a second yellow card in the final minute of normal time.

As time ticked on and the shadows continued to envelop the pitch in New Jersey, Argentina kept waiting. Surely, the moment would arrive, right? It always does? For the last two World Cups, there was always a Lionel Messi moment of magic, and it always seemed to arrive when Argentina needed it most.

Ferran Torres scored the only goal to win Spain the 2026 World Cup in a remarkably drab final. La Roja were the only side eager to play football on the day, and ran out deserved winners in extra-time thanks to the Barcelona forward's heroics. With the victory, they secured back-to-back major trophy wins - and might have ended Leo Messi's Argentina career with a loss.

Diego Luna spoke to GOAL in May in an interview courtesy of Carl's Jr. on how he has juggled U.S. National Team duty with his club career at Real Salt Lake.