The veteran coach has delivered a scathing assessment of the national team's readiness for the World Cup, admitting he is deeply concerned about their prospects. The former Premier Soccer League tactician believes the side's build-up to the global showpiece has been marred by poor administrative decisions and a fear of facing top-tier opposition.
Brazil's final World Cup preparations have been rocked by a significant injury scare involving Roma full-back Wesley. The defender was forced off early during the Selecao's 2-1 friendly victory over Egypt, leaving the pitch in visible distress as the tournament approaches. The situation has left manager Carlo Ancelotti concerned about Wesley's condition.
Endrick shone brightly in Brazil's last friendly before the World Cup, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Egypt. The young striker took advantage of the euphoria to send a strong message to Carlo Ancelotti, reaffirming his commitment to the Brazilian National Team.
The Belgian mentor held nothing back after his side’s lacklustre draw against Jamaica, with the 74-year-old tactician admitting the performance fell well short of the standards he expected. The stalemate exposed several areas in need of urgent attention, as his troops continue preparing for a blockbuster World Cup opener against tournament co-hosts Mexico.
Thomas Tuchel has hit out at England’s tactical discipline during their final preparations for the 2026 World Cup, labelling their first-half performance against New Zealand as "freestyle" football. Despite securing a 1-0 victory in Tampa, the German coach was far from satisfied with how his players deviated from his specific instructions on the pitch.
Hugo Broos' team took on Rudolph Speid's Reggae Boyz at the Estadio Hidalgo in Pachuca, Mexico on Saturday night. With fans and media barred from attending, little is known about the match with even the scoreline being a subject for debate.
The USMNT fell short against Germany in their final pre-World Cup tune-up, but Mauricio Pochettino still saw signs of progress as Antonee Robinson delivered a stunning goal, Malik Tillman impressed in a deeper role, and Miles Robinson endured another difficult outing.
Antonee Robinson has built a reputation as one of the Premier League’s top left backs, but the USMNT defender showed he can be just as dangerous at the other end of the pitch. Robinson blasted a rocket past Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann to pull the Americans level at 1-1 - and somehow, his celebration may have been even better.
Canada’s final World Cup friendlies offered promise and concern, as Luc de Fougerolles rose, Ismaël Koné impressed and Cyle Larin’s goal drought deepened.
The former Kaizer Chiefs defender has thrown his weight behind the current national team, insisting they have the quality to break their historic World Cup hoodoo. Speaking ahead of the 2026 tournament in North America, the retired center-back believes Hugo Broos' side is equipped to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in South African history.
Attacking midfielder Andre De Jong has lauded the immense influence of the 24-year-old Bucs star following the club's historic treble-winning campaign. The Bafana Bafana international emerged as the talisman for the Sea Robbers, proving to be the difference-maker in a season that saw the Soweto giants dominate the domestic landscape.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted to feeling worried and concerned after viewing a journalist's photograph of the playing surface ahead of his side's World Cup warm-up against New Zealand. However, the German tactician insisted that the newly relaid pitch at the Raymond James Stadium will not alter his pre-determined selection plans.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic that injured talisman Neymar will recover from a calf injury in time to feature at the 2026 World Cup. The Italian tactician confirmed that the 34-year-old forward is making excellent progress individually and will undergo a decisive medical scan on Monday before potentially rejoining full squad training next week.
The South Africa legend has hit out at the exclusion of Brandon Petersen and Gift Links from the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming World Cup. The former Premier Soccer League coach believes that performance on the pitch should always outweigh personal preferences when selecting a national team for the global showpiece.
Fresh off a win over Senegal, the USMNT face their toughest pre-World Cup test yet against Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Germany. GOAL breaks down five key storylines.
The national team captain says the South African camp is buzzing with anticipation as they prepare to reclaim their place on the world stage. In a poetic twist of fate, Bafana are set for a high-stakes showdown against co-hosts Mexico in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener. The fixture is a nostalgic throwback to the 2010 curtain-raiser, once again pitting the two nations against each other in one of football's most iconic television slots.
Surprise Moriri has thrown his full weight behind Broos’ squad selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite the inevitable public debate following the announcement of the final roster, the former Mamelodi Sundowns star believes the Belgian tactician has prioritised the right elements for success on the world stage.
The former national team captain has come out strongly in defence of the Burnley star. The 25-year-old forward has found himself under intense scrutiny from a frustrated South African fanbase after his costly penalty miss against Nicaragua, coupled with a dip in form since the Africa Cup of Nations. However, with the global stage fast approaching, legendary former skipper Khune has dismissed the growing criticism, calling for patience and backing the under-fire striker to rediscover his sharp edge when it matters most.
Here GOAL brings you all the details of the friendly match between Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana and Rudolph Speid's Reggae Boyz. The last time these sides met was 16 years ago when they played a in South Africa's warm-up for the 2010 global tournament.
Mexico recovered from an early scare in Toluca to overwhelm Serbia, with Alvaro Fidalgo and Brian Gutierrez among the standouts as El Tri wrapped up their World Cup preparations in style.
With Mexico’s World Cup opener against South Africa looming, El Tri’s friendly vs Serbia gives Javier Aguirre one last chance to settle his XI, sharpen the attack and answer key questions around Alvaro Fidalgo, Alexis Vega, Roberto Alvarado, and Guillermo Ochoa.
Rayan Cherki scored a memorable goal, but a much-changed France side couldn't hold onto the lead as they dropped their first World Cup warmup game to the Ivory Coast, 2-1. Manager Didier Deschamps made plenty of changes, yet still named a strong side. Despite some bright moments, Les Bleus weren't able to piece together a complete performance - and were made to pay.
Brazil will have to face the friendly against Egypt - their final World Cup warm-up – without their talismanic figurehead, as Neymar has been officially ruled out of the upcoming trip to Cleveland. The Santos star is set to remain at the national team's training base to undergo intensive physiotherapy in a desperate race against time.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
