Harry Kane has aired his ambition to become a Ballon d’Or contender, having maintained stunning individual standards with Bayern Munich, while revealing the secrets behind his current form. One of the greatest goalscorers to have ever played the game has been red hot at the start of the 2025-26 campaign, suggesting that he could come into contention for a prestigious Golden Ball award.
Jack Grealish's omission from Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad was not just a surprise, but also completely ridiculous. Only a handful of Premier League players have made better starts to the season than Grealish, who has quickly rediscovered the form that once saw him touted as one of the brightest talents of his generation, since joining Everton on loan from Manchester City in the summer transfer window.
World Cup-winning captain and Ballon d’Or winner Fabio Cannavaro has taken charge of Uzbekistan, leading the Asian underdogs into uncharted territory ahead of their first-ever World Cup campaign in 2026. For a nation long on promise but short on global recognition, his arrival marks the beginning of an audacious new era built on ambition.
Chelsea’s defensive injury crisis continues to deepen, with Reece James being forced to withdraw from the latest England squad. The Blues captain had been called upon by former Stamford Bridge boss Thomas Tuchel for upcoming clashes with Wales and Latvia. James will play no part in those fixtures after picking up a knock, with his place in the Three Lions’ ranks going to Manchester City full-back Nico O’Reilly.
FIFA's official ticket resale platform for the 2026 World Cup will extract 15 percent fees from both buyers and sellers, according to The Athletic. The ticket platform, which launched Thursday using dynamic pricing, featured tickets listed at prices higher than their original face value, with some premium seats reaching tens of thousands of dollars.
The U.S. State Department reportedly denied visa requests from Iran's delegation ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup draw in Washington D.C. According to the Tehran Times, the U.S. government has not approved visas for Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj, coach Amir Ghalenoei and seven other members.
Thomas Tuchel has explained why Jude Bellingham was left out of the latest England squad, with the Three Lions boss speaking to the Real Madrid midfielder before making his selection. Many expected Bellingham to earn an immediate recall after returning to action at club level following shoulder surgery. He has, however, been overlooked alongside the likes of Manchester City playmaker Phil Foden and Everton winger Jack Grealish.
Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nathaniel Brown has received his first call-up to Germany’s senior national team for upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The 22-year-old dual national, still eligible for the United States, could permanently tie his international future to Germany if he appears in either of the competitive matches.
Copenhagen confirmed that after an MRI, Rodrigo Huescas has been diagnosed with a torn ACL. The former Cruz Azul fullback will miss the rest of the season and faces a race against time to be fit for the 2026 World Cup. The injury occurred 13 minutes into Copenhagen’s Champions League clash against Qarabag. Huescas went down in clear pain.
Alexi Lalas backed Weston McKennie for the USMNT’s 2026 World Cup squad following his recall for the October friendlies. The Juventus midfielder had been absent from Mauricio Pochettino’s recent rosters, raising doubts about his role. But with the manager calling this group his potential A squad, McKennie’s inclusion is an encouraging sign.
Former Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro is all set to take up a shock new international job ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The Ballon d'Or winning ex-Juventus star was without a job since Dinamo Zagreb parted ways with him in April this year. However, Cannavaro is now set to return to football management to lead Uzbekistan in their maiden appearance at the 2026 World Cup.
Casemiro has received the backing of his former Real Madrid and current Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti to wear the captain's armband for the Selecao in the build up to next year's World Cup. Having marked his return to the national team setup after a prolonged absence, Casemiro hasn't lost the trust of Ancelotti, who has urged the resurgent Manchester United man to "set an example everyday."
France head coach Didier Deschamps admitted that he has no doubt that Paul Pogba's goal is to return to the national team ahead of next year's World Cup in the USA. At a press conference on Thursday, Deschamps explained what the 32-year-old must do in order to earn a recall to Les Bleus' squad, with the ex-Manchester United and Juventus player expected to make his Monaco debut later this month.
Former USMNT star Landon Donovan has changed his tone regarding Christian Pulisic following the winger's exceptional performances for AC Milan. Donovan, who previously criticized Pulisic's decision to skip the Gold Cup, emphasized his support for the 26-year-old's success while explaining the reasoning behind his earlier comments.
Former USMNT star Landon Donovan is questioning the reliability of forward Ricardo Pepi and attacking midfielder Gao Reyna following their recent injury setbacks. The USMNT's all-time joint leading goalscorer suggested that availability issues could threaten both player’s roles in the national team under coach Mauricio Pochettino.
A FIFA vice president said that U.S. President Donald Trump cannot decide which cities host games in the 2026 World Cup. Victor Montagliani, who is also president of CONCACAF, was speaking at a conference in London after Trump suggested he could move games away from cities he thought might be "even a little dangerous for the World Cup.”
Millions of soccer fans from around the world have the opportunity to buy tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in North America, as lottery winners from 4.5 million applicants were granted access starting Wednesday. FIFA said lottery winners were or will be informed of their status via email. The governing body expects demand will be high.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been backed to be a "vital" player for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup "regardless of how long he stays on the field". The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, now armed with a record-shattering new two-year contract at Saudi giants Al-Nassr, shows no signs of slowing down. His relentless pursuit of football immortality, including the dream of smashing through the 1,000 career goal barrier, has football fans wondering: just how long can this "machine" keep going?
U.S. international Quinn Sullivan confirmed that he sustained an ACL injury during the Philadelphia Union’s 6-0 victory over D.C. United on the weekend. The 21-year-old midfielder lasted just 12 minutes before the knee injury. He initially attempted to play on, but it soon became apparent that would not be possible.
Barcelona’s decision to recall Diego Kochen, bringing him in as backup to Wojciech Szczęsny after No. 2 Joan García’s injury, prompted U.S. Soccer to make a late change to its FIFA U20 World Cup roster. The Blaugrana are also without Marc-André ter Stegen, who is dealing with a long-term injury. Brøndby’s Gavin Beavers has been called in as his replacement.
U.S. President Trump suggested to reporters this week that he could move matches for next summer’s 2026 men’s World Cup away from U.S. host cities that are “even a little bit dangerous.” It is unclear how feasible it would be to change sites for World Cup games at this point in the process, as the event begins next June.
Eric Dier admits that memories of breaking his trophy duck, while helping Harry Kane to lift his silverware curse, still gives him goosebumps. The versatile England international became a title winner alongside his close friend and fellow former Tottenham star when helping Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga crown in 2024-25. Memories of that success will live with Dier forever.
FIFA is reportedly unlikely to advance a proposal to expand the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams for 2030, despite recommendations from CONMEBOL, South American FA leaders, and several presidents from the continent. The Guardian reports that while FIFA heard the pitch and will share it with stakeholders, there is internal skepticism about the plan.
FIFA has unveiled the official mascots for the 2026 World Cup, with each host nation represented by a unique character. Maple the Moose stands for Canada, Zayu the Jaguar for Mexico, and Clutch the Bald Eagle for the United States, reflecting cultural diversity and shared passion for the global game. The 2026 World Cup kicks off next June.
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