Mexico have announced three additional friendlies against Australia, Ghana, and Serbia as part of their final preparations for the 2026 World Cup. El Tri will open the tournament on June 11 against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. The matches are designed to limit travel and fine-tune the squad before the global showcase on home soil.
The possible return of the experienced gaffer to Chloorkop has been quite a hot topic over the recent weeks. With Miguel Cardoso struggling to steady the ship, reports have linked the former Al Ahly tactician to his former club. The three-time CAF Champions League winner has responded to the rumours and revealed the team he would like to coach next.
South Africa return to the world stage at the global football competition, having last featured in the 2010 edition which they hosted. This time, they head to North America determined to make history beyond merely participating but progressing past the group stage for the first time in their history at the tournament.
With fewer than four months until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, uncertainty surrounds matches scheduled for Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Town officials say they will not issue FIFA the required entertainment license until a dispute over roughly $7.8 million in public safety funding is resolved, ESPN reported.
Jude Bellingham has handed England a pre-World Cup selection headache, with it reported that the Real Madrid superstar’s hamstring injury is worse than first feared. It is being suggested that the 22-year-old midfielder will sit out the Three Lions’ final camp before Thomas Tuchel settles on his 26-man squad for a shot at global glory in North America this summer.
Pep Guardiola has told Phil Foden to just relax amid his latest slump in form, but that is easier said than done, given his place in the Manchester City line-up is less certain than ever while his status in the England squad also at risk. Foden appeared to have put last season's struggles behind him towards the end of 2025, but he now appears to be suffering another dip at the worst possible time.
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 travel through the most emotional legacy in football history: Argentina’s journey from wounds to glory. From the heartbreak of lost finals to the joy of Qatar, this is the story of a team that turned suffering into strength, and passion into destiny. A nation that doesn’t just play the World Cup - it feels it.
With just weeks until Mexico face Portugal in a high-profile friendly, Portuguese media report growing concern over renovation delays at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, now renamed Estadio Banorte. While organizers insist the venue will be ready for March 28, uncertainty has sparked speculation about a potential change of site for the match - and even future World Cup fixtures.
Athletic Club have been rocked by a major fitness blow as star winger Nico Williams has been sidelined indefinitely to deal with a persistent pubalgia issue. The Euro 2024 hero has been struggling with the abdominal problem since the start of the season. Despite attempts to manage the injury through a combination of tailored training and match minutes, the club finally decided to pull the 23-year-old out of action following the recent match against Real Oviedo.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious injury on his first home appearance for Dutch giants Ajax. Zinchenko was named in the starting XI for the Eredivisie side for the first time since his arrival from Arsenal at the start of February but his full debut was cut short as he was forced off with just minutes on the clock.
Wayne Rooney has outlined how Thomas Tuchel’s new England contract, which is due to take him through to the summer of 2028, will impact international stars such as Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden. The former Three Lions captain believes that the demanding German tactician is now less likely to make contentious decisions in his World Cup squad selection.
Ivan Toney has sent a World Cup message to England manager Thomas Tuchel, reminding the German tactician that he is still “hungry” for goals and international recognition after leaving the Premier League for a stint in the Saudi Pro League. The former Brentford striker has been competing with Portuguese GOAT Cristiano Ronaldo for Golden Boot honours in the Middle East.
Tottenham have been warned that bringing Mauricio Pochettino back to north London may not be the best option this summer, with the USMNT disrupting the plans of the Premier League strugglers. Spurs are in the market for a new head coach after sacking Thomas Frank, with Bobby Zamora in an interview with GOAL about what happens next.
Aymeric Laporte admits that “everyone is afraid” of Spain international team-mate Lamine Yamal, with the Barcelona wonderkid having rivals running scared. At just 18 years of age, the teen sensation continues to see his stock soar. He has earned another comparison to Argentine GOAT Lionel Messi, with their dribbling ability considered to occupy a similar talent pool.
England and Scotland games at the 2026 World Cup are under threat, with Gillette Stadium in Foxborough yet to be granted the license required to stage FIFA fixtures. The iconic venue on the outskirts of Boston, which is home to the New England Patriots franchise in NFL circles, is due to host seven matches at this summer’s global showpiece.
Although much has been expected from the 22-year-old, he has ended up attracting more criticism than praise. After wasting quite a number of chances against Stellenbosch in a Nedbank Cup encounter, his performance was again negatively scrutinised. But there is hope for the South African star; he has been tipped to become a top goal scorer and even a dependable Bafana asset.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez believes Cristiano Ronaldo could play "on and on and on" if he wanted to, as questions over the 41-year-old's future in the game intensify with each passing day. Ronaldo is almost certain to lead his country at the 2026 World Cup this summer in what is likely to be his international swansong, but it's still unclear when he will retire from the game entirely.
If it wasn't already clear, Jude Bellingham is the new face of adidas in men's football - taking on the mantle from Lionel Messi as he follows the path trodden by the likes of David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane to become a true icon of the Three Stripes. Like those former greats, his relationship with the German sportswear giant looks certain to stretch well beyond his playing days.
Michael Owen has delivered tactical advice to Harry Kane and England manager Thomas Tuchel, with the former Three Lions striker telling GOAL why the “best finisher in the world” needs to heed advice when it comes to doing his “job”. As the ultimate team player Kane is happy to drop wide and deep, but that takes him away from areas where he can cause the most damage.
England manager Thomas Tuchel admits that Jude Bellingham faces a “race against time” when it comes to proving his fitness ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The Real Madrid midfielder is nursing a hamstring injury picked up at club level. He has not been ruled out of March internationals, but may require his head coach with the Three Lions to make a selection based on reputation this summer.
The 20-year-old surprised everyone when his move to MLS was announced in December 2025 shortly before the 2025 Carling Knockout Cup final where he captained his side to victory against Marumo Gallants. In a year in which he had broken into the Bucs first team and Hugo Broos Bafana Bafana set up as a teenager, it was expected that a European football would be his next destination.
Brazil are on the verge of securing their long-term future as Carlo Ancelotti prepares to put pen to paper on a contract extension. The former Real Madrid boss, who took the reins last summer, has agreed fresh terms that will see him lead the Selecao until the 2030 World Cup, ending speculation over a potential return to Europe this summer.
By his own admission, Cole Palmer still isn't fully fit as he grapples with a niggling groin issue that has plagued him all season long. The scary thing is, we're starting to see the Chelsea talisman at something close to his best despite his ongoing injury troubles, and the timing of his recent uptick in form could be perfect as he eyes a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Michael Owen has told GOAL of the key striker decision that Thomas Tuchel must make when piecing together his England squad for the 2026 World Cup. Harry Kane, as captain of his country, is a guaranteed selection if fit. Questions continue to be asked of who should join the Three Lions’ all-time leading scorer in a star-studded party heading to North America.
Michael Owen has explained to GOAL how Thomas Tuchel could work Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers into the same starting XI, rather than having to pick between two creative playmakers. The Three Lions are blessed with an abundance of options in the No.10 role, with the race on to nail down that berth ahead of a quest for global glory being opened this summer.
Thomas Tuchel has signed a new contract with England that will keep him in charge of the Three Lions through to the end of a quest for European Championship glory in 2028. The new agreement has been confirmed ahead of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League draw, with the German tactician having snubbed interest being shown in his services by leading club sides from across Europe.
England have picked Kansas City as their World Cup base and will share the city with Argentina, who have also resolved to base themselves in the city. The Three Lions will train at Swope Soccer Village, the current home of Sporting Kansas City II, a team in the MLS Next PRO competition.
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