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World Cup Qualification UEFA

World Cup Qualification UEFA news

Republic of Ireland v Portugal - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

FIFA to reduce Ronaldo's ban? FPF preparing formal appeal

Top bosses of the Portuguese football federation have reportedly begun assembling an urgent appeal to FIFA in an attempt to cut down Cristiano Ronaldo’s three-match suspension, a punishment that currently threatens to rule the 40-year-old out of the opening fixtures of what would be his sixth World Cup next summer. He was dismissed during Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Thursday after he was shown a straight red card after VAR adjudged that he had elbowed Irish defender Dara O’Shea.

C. RonaldoPortugal
Sweden v Switzerland - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

Sweden boss Potter gives disappointing update on Isak fitness

Sweden boss Graham Potter says star striker Alexander Isak is not ready to play two full games during the international break. The £125m man has been struggling for fitness since leaving Newcastle for Merseyside. Potter did confirm the Liverpool star will play some part in his side's World Cup qualifiers; Isak has been named on the bench to face Switzerland today.

A. IsakLiverpool
England Men's Training & Press Conference

Kane says Tuchel brings 'aura' to England's World Cup bid

Thomas Tuchel brings an “aura” which can give England a major advantage in their quest to win the World Cup next summer, according to Harry Kane. The Three Lions captain has opened up about what it is like to play under the German head coach, whom he previously worked with during their period together at Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.

T. TuchelH. Kane
England v Serbia - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

Tuchel hints at potential midfield pairing for World Cup

Thomas Tuchel has dropped a massive hint about his potential midfield pairing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be staged next summer. England continued their faultless march toward the 2026 World Cup with a measured and professional 2-0 victory over Serbia on Thursday, and the German manager wants his troops to tap into the winning mentality ahead of the global showpiece event.

T. TuchelEngland
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Sunderland v Arsenal - Premier League

Arsenal suffer another injury blow after losing Gabriel

Arsenal have suffered another injury blow in the Premier League title race after Italy confirmed Riccardo Calafiori has withdrawn from international duty due to injury. Azzurri head coach Gennaro Gattuso has announced the defender will miss Sunday’s World Cup qualifier with Norway, on the same day centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes limped out of Brazil’s friendly win over Senegal.

ArsenalM. Arteta
Luxembourg v Germany - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

Confident Woltemade revels in scoring key goals for Germany

Nick Woltemade spoke with confidence after bagging both goals in Germany's 2-0 win over Luxembourg. The towering striker saved Die Mannschaft's blushes after a goalless first half against the international minnows. His manager Julian Nagelsmann praised his first choice goal scorer's work ethic, saying the 23-year-old deserved "special praise" after his tireless performance.

N. WoltemadeJ. Nagelsmann
FBL-WC-2026-EUR-QUALIFIERS-FRA-ISL

Deschamps explains reasoning behind Mbappe France release

France boss Didier Deschamps has doubled down on his decision to allow Kylian Mbappe to leave the squad early, saying there was no need to take any “risks” with the forward’s fitness after he fired his country to the 2026 World Cup. The Real Madrid star pulled out of his side’s final World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on Sunday after sustaining an ankle injury in Thursday’s win over Ukraine.

K. MbappeFrance
Georgia 0-4 Spain

No Yamal, no problem! Oyarzabal puts Spain on brink of World Cup

European champions Spain have all-but qualified for next summer's World Cup after crushing Georgia 4-0 on Saturday evening. Two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and strikes from Martin Zubimendi and Ferran Torres saw Luis de la Fuente's side maintain their 100 per cent record in Group E, on an evening when second-placed Turkey also defeated Bulgaria 2-0.

Player ratingsSpain
Real Madrid CF v CA Osasuna - LaLiga EA Sports

Huijsen to undergo scan after missing Spain's clash with Georgia

Spain defender Dean Huijsen is set to undergo a scan after being left out of the matchday squad for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Georgia through groin discomfort. The European champions are now sweating on the Real Madrid centre-back’s fitness ahead of their final qualifier against Turkey next Tuesday after he experienced the issue in training.

D. HuijsenSpain
France v Ukraine - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

Mbappe told he is causing issues with France 'special treatment'

Former France international Jerome Rothen has claimed Kylian Mbappe receives “special treatment” which will “cause problems” with his team-mates should they hit a poor run of form. The Real Madrid forward withdrew from Les Blues’ squad ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifier with Azerbaijan after picking up an ankle injury in Thursday’s 4-0 win over Ukraine.

K. MbappeFrance

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Luxembourg v Germany - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

Nagelsmann refuses to shout as Germany players 'can't stand being attacked'

Julian Nagelsmann revealed that he did not shout at his players after a lacklustre first-half performance against Luxembourg, as the manager claimed that the squad could not have handled being attacked at that point. Germany eventually clinched the tie 2-0 thanks to a brace from Newcastle forward Nick Woltemade as they continued to remain favourites to seal a direct World Cup berth from Group A.

GermanyJ. Nagelsmann
England v Serbia - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

Tuchel to borrow from rugby with new England tactic for World Cup

England's hopes of landing the World Cup could hang on a unique tactic borrowed from another international team, in a completely different sport. Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel has massive decisions to make regarding who makes the starting XI and who he keeps on the bench, but could copy the “Pom Squad” system favoured by England's rugby team for when he makes his substitutions.

T. TuchelEngland
Luxembourg v Germany - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

'Decisive' Sane earns Nagelsmann's praise after starring role for Germany

Leroy Sane earned praise from Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann after starring in the four-time world champions' hard-fought 2-0 win over Luxembourg in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match on Friday. Nagelsmann had earlier issued a public warning to former Bayern Munich and Manchester City winger that he could lose his place in the national if he did not perform consistently.

L. SaneGermany
SL Benfica v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 First Leg

Olmo denies dressing room tension over Yamal injury controversy

Dani Olmo has dismissed claims of significant tension within the Spain national team dressing room, despite the ongoing public dispute between Barcelona and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) regarding Lamine Yamal's latest injury withdrawal. The Barcelona midfielder insisted that "both sides want what's best for the player" and that the situation does not affect the squad.

L. YamalSpain
Germany GFX

Woltemade to the rescue for disjointed Germany

Germany survived an unsettling evening in Luxembourg as a Nick Woltemade brace proved decisive in a match that will raise far more questions than it answers for Julian Nagelsmann. A 2-0 win was ultimately enough to keep Germany on track in their qualifying campaign for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, but the performance itself was scattered, lethargic and lacking cohesion.

N. WoltemadeGermany
Nico O'Reilly John Stones England

Heartwarming scenes as Stones presents O'Reilly his first England cap

A touching post-match moment inside the Wembley dressing room showed Manchester City star John Stones presenting team-mate Nico O’Reilly with his first England cap, delivering a heartfelt speech in the aftermath of the 20-year-old's dream debut. The exchange came after England’s 2-0 win over Serbia, with cameras capturing O’Reilly’s pride as team-mates applauded the milestone.

N. O'ReillyJ. Stones

Frequently asked questions

Bayern Munich are the most decorated team in the history of Bundesliga with 32 top-flight titles to their name. Their most recent title came in the 2022-23 season, which was their 11th straight league title.

There are 18 teams in the current format of the Bundesliga. Bundesliga, as we know it today, was formed in 1962 with the 1963-64 season being the first-ever season. It began with 16 teams, but was expanded to 18 teams ahead of the 1965-66 season.

Karl-Heinz 'Charly' Korbel, with 602 appearances to his name, holds the record for making the most appearances in Bundesliga history. The defender achieved this feat with just one club: Eintracht Frankfurt.

Gerd Muller, inarguably the greatest German forward of all-time, is Bundesliga's all-time leading goalscorer with 365 goals to his name in 427 appearances. All his goals came in a Bayern Munich jersey.

Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller has registered the most assists in Bundesliga history, with 207 and counting.

Former German defender Klaus Fitchel is the oldest player ever to play in the Bundesliga. Fitchel was aged 43 years and 184 days when he played for Schalke on the final matchday of the 1987-88 campaign.

Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Youssoufa Moukoko, at 16 years and one day, became the youngest player in Bundesliga history to play in the league, when he came on for Erling Haaland in the 2020-21 season in a game against Hertha Berlin.

Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus, Ilkay Gundogan, Stefan Effenberg, Toni Kroos, Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer, Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rudiger, and Arjen Robben are some of the most famous players to have played in the Bundesliga.

Xabi Alonso, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Jurgen Klopp, Julian Nagelsmann, Jupp Heynckes, Ralf Rangnick, Thomas Tuchel, Otto Rehhagel, Matthias Sammer, and Giovanni Trapattoni are some of the most famous managers to have managed a Bundesliga club.

Borussia Dortmund's electrifying stadium Signal Iduna Park is the biggest stadium in the Bundesliga with a capacity of 81.365.

Harry Kane's €95 million move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich in 2023 is Bundesliga's most expensive transfer of all-time.

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