Chelsea starlet Estevao Willian has returned to his native Brazil to continue his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury at the facilities of his former club, Palmeiras. The 19-year-old winger is facing a desperate race against time to prove his fitness ahead of the upcoming World Cup, with his place in Carlo Ancelotti's squad currently in serious jeopardy.
Masterchef’s future with the Sea Robbers is hanging in the balance as the 2025/26 season enters its final weeks. The midfielder, who joined the Buccaneers with high expectations, now faces the very real possibility of being shown the exit door after just one campaign in Soweto.
The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture has revealed the names of 16 local fans who will go to the tournament, representing one fan winner from each Betway Premiership side. This comes hot on the heels of the Minister confirming he will fund 20 local musicians to perform at the global showpiece. But so far there's no room for the Bafana superfan who clashed with the minister over funding for her proposed trip to the finals.
Lamine Yamal has taken a major step in his recovery after returning to grass training at Barcelona’s facilities. The teenage forward is following a strict rehabilitation programme after suffering a muscle tear in April. Spain boss Luis de la Fuente is hopeful the winger will still play a key role at the 2026 World Cup.
France legend Thierry Henry has lauded Barcelona and Spain sensation Lamine Yamal, admitting he is "amazed" by the teenager's decision-making on the pitch. Speaking ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the former Barcelona striker expressed his desire to see the La Roja wonderkid at his absolute "peak" at the tournament, as he battles back from a serious injury.
This is Legacy, GOAL’s feature and podcast series that counts down to the 2026 World Cup. Each week, we explore the stories and the spirit behind the nations that define the world’s game. This week, we follow Senegal's Lions of Teranga across two decades of triumph, turbulence and transformation - from the thunderbolt of 2002, to the cruel fair-play exit of 2018, to the continental rise that brought them back stronger in Qatar.
Manchester United have reached a surprising agreement with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to rest star forward Matheus Cunha for the remainder of the Premier League season. The move comes as a major boost for Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has been sweating over the fitness of several key players ahead of the World Cup.
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has thrown his weight behind Neymar making Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad, suggesting the forward is willing to sacrifice his starting spot to chase the trophy. With the Seleção's final roster set to be announced on May 18, the veteran midfielder believes the Santos star still has a vital role to play under Carlo Ancelotti.
Phil Foden and Morgan Gibbs-White have been warned to brace for World Cup heartache, with Chris Waddle telling GOAL which playmakers he would pick if stepping into Thomas Tuchel’s shoes as England boss. The Three Lions are blessed with an abundance of creative options, such as Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, meaning that some big names are going to be left disappointed.
The Men in Red coach has addressed the high-profile error made by Mbekezeli Mbokazi during a disappointing Major League Soccer defeat. The South African youngster saw a misplaced pass lead directly to an opposition goal in a tight contest against FC Cincinnati.
Brazil icon Cafu has sensationally claimed that Neymar is technically superior to both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as he backed the forward to lead the Selecao at the upcoming World Cup. The legendary right-back, who remains the only man to play in three consecutive World Cup finals, believes a fit Neymar remains the ultimate difference-maker for the Brazil national team.
The Tshwane giants coach has delivered a significant boost to the Masandawana faithful with a fresh update on the highly-rated defender's fitness. The veteran has been a massive miss for Downs and the national team, having spent the vast majority of the current campaign on the treatment table.
Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane has launched a passionate defence of Cole Palmer amid an injury-hit season for the England international. Despite a recurring groin problem, the 23-year-old remains a pivotal figure for the Blues as he looks to find his best rhythm ahead of this summer's World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel has been urged to rethink his World Cup plans when it comes to Harry Maguire, with former England full-back Michael Gray explaining to GOAL why the Manchester United centre-half is worth his “weight in gold” to the Three Lions cause. German tactician Tuchel has some big selection calls to make ahead of a global gathering in North America this summer.
Former United States star Alexi Lalas has weighed in on the psychological makeup of Christian Pulisic after the AC Milan forward was labelled "sensitive" by his club manager. As the USMNT prepares for a historic home World Cup under Mauricio Pochettino, the debate over the talisman's temperament has taken center stage.
Alan Shearer suggests Harry Kane could secure the Ballon d’Or this year regardless of England’s World Cup success following a record-breaking campaign with Bayern Munich. The legendary striker believes the chemistry between Kane, Luis Diaz, and Michael Olise mirrors the iconic 'MSN' partnership that once dominated European football at Barcelona.
The Buccaneers' youth product has been warned that his place in the Bafana setup for the upcoming World Cup is far from guaranteed. After a difficult domestic campaign that saw Burnley relegated from the Premier League, a former national team boss believes the striker must prove himself all over again.
Neymar has once again sidelined himself for a major fixture due to his long-standing and vocal opposition to artificial playing surfaces. The Brazilian icon sat out Santos’ high-profile derby against Palmeiras to avoid the synthetic pitch at the Allianz Parque, a decision that comes at a critical time as he fights to prove his fitness to Carlo Ancelotti.
Struggling to find his flow and still battling fitness issues at the end of an injury-plagued season, Cole Palmer will on Monday go head to head with the player who poses an existential threat to his World Cup dream in Morgan Gibbs-White. The Chelsea talisman and the resurgent Nottingham Forest star form part of an intense fight for the No.10 shirt in Thomas Tuchel's England squad.
The Babina Noko midfielder has issued a firm warning regarding the future of South African football, insisting that the country must do more to retain its top coaching talent. The PSL veteran highlighted a worrying trend of local tactical experts seeking opportunities abroad rather than staying to develop the next generation of domestic stars.
The Buccaneers forward has revealed that standing for the Soweto giants on the global stage is his ultimate ambition, as he aspires to secure a place with the All Whites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 29-year-old, who joined the club in January, is hoping to carry his club domestic form into the international arena as his national team prepares for a challenging group stage in North America.
The South African side's head coach has laid down a formidable challenge for his defenders as the race for places in the global showpiece squad intensifies. With a wealth of options at his disposal, the Belgian tactician has lifted the lid on the non-negotiable physical attributes required to thrive at the highest level of international football.
Katlego Mphela has turned up the heat regarding the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach's future, claiming South African football is losing its spark without the iconic tactician in the dugout. He believes that a return for the serial winner is essential to restore the entertainment factor to the domestic landscape.
The 27-year-old's extraordinary season in Denmark reached new heights this week as the wing-back produced another standout performance in a high-stakes title clash but, despite his domestic dominance, the former Cape Town City man remains on the outside of the South Africa national team.
Antony has expressed his immense admiration for Neymar, describing the Santos forward as the most gifted individual he has ever witnessed on a football pitch. Now enjoying a career resurgence with Real Betis, the former Manchester United winger is hopeful that both he and his "extraordinary" compatriot can secure their places in Brazil's squad for the upcoming World Cup.
The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture is facing a social media backlash following his latest announcement regarding South Africa's presence at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While Bafana Bafana prepare for their trip to North America, the Minister has confirmed plans to send 20 local musicians to perform at the global showpiece with no room for superfan Mama Joy who clashed with the minister over funding for her proposed trip to the finals.
Kylian Mbappe has been told he lacks the technical brilliance of Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele as questions arise over his suitability as France’s primary leader. Despite his prolific goalscoring record for Les Bleus, former international Jerome Rothen believes the Real Madrid star should no longer be considered the technical focal point of Didier Deschamps' side.
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